m sturbridge timesrise of the warrior cop: the militarization of america’s police forces by radley...

STURBRIDGETIMESMAGAZINE

MARCH 2014THE

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

2 THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVINGTHE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

Escape the ordinary. We invite you to experience how quality, American-made

furniture can transform your home.

107 Dresser Hill Rd, (Rte 31), Charlton, MA 01507 |

charltonfurniture.com107 Dresser Hill Rd, (Rte 31), Charlton, MA 01507 |

Complimentary design service available.

3THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE

STURBRIDGETIMESMAGAZINE

THE

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE is published 11 times a year, with no January issue, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts by Carr, Quinn& Small, Inc. We accept photos, opinions, short articles, stories, poems and drawings from the general public, but assume no responsibilityfor failure to publish a submission or for typographic errors published or incorrect placement. The contents of this magazine consist of copy-rightable material and cannot be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the author and the publishers of The SturbridgeTimes Magazine. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. We reserve the right to require editing to any advertising that isaccepted for publication. Opinion printed herein report views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of themagazine, its publisher, or Carr, Quinn & Small, Inc. We invite varying opinions and information from our writers and readers, wishing toprovide a public forum for well-tempered, well-reasoned thoughts, ideas and opinion.ADVERTISING DEADLINE: Camera ready: the 20th of each month prior to publication. The 17th of the month for Nov. and Dec.ADVERTISING OFFICE: 508-347-7077 ext. 2 (Karen Rothweiler, Ad Director).EDITORIAL DEADLINE: The 21st of each month prior to publication.

DELIVERED INTO EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS AND POST OFFICE BOXES 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. AND TO MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRYIN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.

THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE | CARR, QUINN & SMALL, INC.P.O. BOX 418, STURBRIDGE, MA 01566 TEL. 508-347-7077 FAX 508-347-8150 STURBRIDGETIMES.COM CQSMEDIA.COM

© 2013 BY CARR, QUINN & SMALL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MARCH 2014STURBRIDGECOUNTRYLIVING

PUBLISHER & EDITOR.......................PAUL CARRMANAGING EDITOR ..........................JOHN SMALLSTORY EDITOR .................................STEPHANIE RICHARDS

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR...................KAREN ROTHWEILER

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION..............TERRI RACCA

WRITERS ..........................................LISA BOULEY.......................................................THOMAS CHAMBERLAND.......................................................MATT COLE.......................................................ROBERT GEORGE, ESQ.......................................................PETER J. KASLAUSKAS.......................................................RICHARD MCGRATH.......................................................KATHY MENARD.......................................................RICHARD MORCHOE.......................................................STEPHANIE RICHARDS.......................................................G.E. SHUMAN

Annual Subscription RateIf you live outside Sturbridge and Sturbridge Times Mag-azine is not mailed to your home, you may subscribe atour annual rate of $29.00. Checks must indicate “An-nual Subscription” on the detail and be made payableto Carr, Quinn & Small, Inc. and forwarded to: Stur-bridge Times, P.O. Box 418, Sturbridge, MA 01566.


Mass. university students shift from drive commuting, study says

As younger Americans lead a na-tional shift away from driving,

universities like Harvard and UMassBoston are giving students new optionsfor getting around and becoming inno-vators in transportation policy, accord-ing to a new report released today. Thereport, titled, “A New Course: How In-novative University Programs Are Re-ducing Driving on Campus andCreating New Models for Transporta-tion Policy,” was released by MASS-PIRG Education Fund and features theUMass, MIT, Northeastern and Har-vard University.

Sturbridge resident Kirstie Pecci,who works at the MASSPirg EducationFund explains: “Across America, col-leges and universities are showing thatefforts to meet increased demand for

transportation options deliver powerful ben-efits for their community and surroundingareas. Partnerships like this, seen betweenthe cities of Cambridge and Boston, Hubwayand local colleges, are saving money for uni-versities and improving the quality of life oncampus.”

Americans in the 16 to 34 age group re-duced their annual driving miles by 23 per-cent per person between 2001 and 2009,according to research based on the most re-cent data from the Federal Highway Admin-istration that is included in the study.

Cambridge City councilor Craig Kelleyobserves: “What we design today and buildtomorrow is going to define how we live fordecades. Many people, especially Millennials(the demographic cohort following Genera-tion X, also known as Generation Y), areowning fewer cars and traveling differently

from previous generations. Realizing thisis crucial to making sure the world we'llbe living in tomorrow reflects the realitybeing created today.”

As Baby Boomers grow older, Millen-nials have become America’s largest gen-eration. Since government investmentsin transportation infrastructure oftenlast decades, the question of whethercurrent investment will match the needsof future travelers depends largely onhow well Millennials’ preferences will bemet.

Pecci advises: “University and collegecampuses are at the forefront of encour-aging news ways to get around that don’t

depend on personal cars. Public officialswho want to stay ahead of the curveshould be taking notes.”

In Boston, the collaboration betweenUMass Boston, Harvard, Northeasternand the bike sharing service, Hubway,functions as a template that universitiesaround the country can replicate. Thepartnership has allowed the communityaccess to a convenient and sustainabletransportation option for both campus-wide and city-wide travel. Nicole Freed-man, director of Bicycle Programs of theCity of Boston reports that there are60,000 bike trips per day during peakmonths in Boston, citing a trend towardswitching to daily cycling.

The MASSPirg report describes howuniversities like UMass Boston and Har-vard are improving their communitiesby providing a wider range of transporta-tion choices. This includes buses, biking,various types of vehicle-sharing thatmakes it easier not to have a personalcar, and convenient apps that make iteasier to navigate the options. The re-port also documents how campuses seekto avoid the steep costs of building addi-tional parking facilities.

“Universities have a lot in commonwith cities,” added Pecci. “They must getthe most value out of limited land, theyare acutely aware of problems associatedwith being overrun by cars, and theyneed to focus on the tastes and aspira-tions of young people. It’s no wonderthat universities are leaders in findingsuccessful ways to make it easier for peo-ple to drive less.”

The reported cited in the article isavailable for download at:http://masspirgedfund.org/reports/maf/new-course

TRENDS

Americans in the16 to 34 age group reduced their annual drivingmiles by 23 percent per person between 2001 and 2009

] ]

x


The title of the book, Rise of TheWarrior Cop, evokes strong im-

agery but is not entirely on point.True, compared to policemen of notso long ago, today’s officers are morearmed and armored. The number ofspecialized units has grown to the ex-tent that it seems uncountable. Theproblem is, the title implies the situa-tion began as a police movement; itdid not.

As the author, Radley Balko ablypoints out: politicians are the sourceof the militarization. This does notmean there were no chiefs that didnot see more force and power as de-sirable several decades ago. Los An-geles’ storied Chief Daryl Gates wasthat poster child. The nature of bu-reaucratic service is, get your depart-ment more funded now, because youmight not get the chance later.

The trend started during RichardNixon’s presidential campaign in1968, amid the turbulence of the six-ties, with riots in Watts and the wakeof the King assassination. The policelandscape was also peppered withprotests, and some violence, associ-ated with the Vietnam War and thedraft.

Nixon harped on the law-and-order theme and the curse of drugs.

It worked. After all, who is for disor-der and the curse of drugs? The D.C.money spigot opened and neverclosed.

The curse of drugs would lead tomany outcomes including a “war ondrugs,” with its dubious scorecard. Italso led to de facto constitutionalchanges not envisioned by thefounders. Not only Nixon, but most

BOOKREVIEW

Balko book traces arc of U.S. law enforcement from colonial justice to today’s SWAT teams and riot cops

BYRICHARDMORCHOE

Rise of the Warrior Cop:The Militarization of America’sPolice ForcesBy Radley BalkoHardcover, 368 pp..Public Affairs, 2013List $27.99 Amazon: $21.16

Continued on following page


of his successors as well have chipped away at protec-tions that The American Revolution fought for.

The greatest damage has been done to The CastleDoctrine. I don’t know if they teach it in school now,but back in the grades I remember the nuns sayinghow this aspect of English Common Law, a man’shome is his castle, was bedrock of our country.

After the War of Independence, it was enshrinedin our Bill of Rights as The Fourth Amendmentwhich states, The right of the people to be secure intheir persons, houses, papers, and effects, against un-reasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly de-scribing the place to be searched, and the persons orthings to be seized. As transparent a statement of lawas you’re going to get. A good part of the book detailsthe assault on the spirit of the amendment and theholding action to protect it.

Once the “wars” on drugs and crime had been de-clared, they had to be fought. The money would bespent on police. The police would, however, not getcash in order to become closer to the community, butto militarize.

The result has been that SWAT, that is SpecialWeapons and Tactics teams have proliferated. It issuch that 80% of towns with a population between25,000 and 50,000 have a SWAT team. Is this reallynecessary is the question the book raises?

In a country where even the Consumer ProductSafety Commission can have a SWAT team, whocan’t? What level of government is going to be next?

One should think twice about keeping that overduelibrary book too long.

Weapons and gear were part of the war, but whowas the enemy? Your local drug dealer and petty crim-inal, not to mention small time users were all fairgame. This is where the assault on the Constitutionreally took off. To catch such people, the police hadto have reason to believe they were breaking the law.To search for drugs, that suspicion had to be taken to

a judge to obtain a warrant. With warrant in hand,the constable will go to the building to be searchedand knock. Either someone would respond, or aftera reasonable time, entry would be forced and a searchcompleted, all in compliance with the spirit of theabovementioned amendment.

Ah, but that in no more than a few seconds, thedrug pusher could flush the evidence away meant aproblem in advancing the great war on substances.Government lawyers kept pushing and eventually wehad “no knock” raids. Not really within the constitu-tional ideal, but if you believe the scourge of drugs andcrime is the most important issue of our time, thelogic is inexorable. Today, the no knock raid is an ac-cepted weapon in the arsenal of law enforcement. Alltoo often a flash grenade accompanies it.

The problem is, there is no accountability. Policeare rarely questioned even when the raid is made inerror, a not uncommon event as documented byBalko. Their unions have negotiated earnestly on be-half of the men and women in blue. It is such thatmany departments have a “law enforcement bill ofrights” that citizens don’t get. One should not blamea union for hard bargaining, but rights against the peo-ple supposedly served should give us pause.

With police militarization, the constabulary hasbeen added to The Military-Industrial Complex sodreaded by Eisenhower.

BOOKREVIEW

Weapons and gear were part of the war

but who was the enemy?

Continued from previous page

Warrior cop


I was shopping at a large Americanretailer the other day and spent a fewminutes daydreaming, or, more accu-rately, spring-dreaming, in the seasonalarea of the store. You know, that’s thepart of the store that changes with theseasons, hence, the name. (No oneuses the word ‘hence’ anymore. I’m notsure why.) Truthfully, it was with greatjoy that I was suddenly in a place thatwas totally dedicated, if only ‘season-ally,’ to spring and summer! Seed trays,potting soils, spades, hoes and hoseswere everywhere, and I felt like a kid ina candy store.

I don’t have much room for a gar-den where we live, but do plant a fewthings in pots, on and around our frontporch, each year. I love what small suc-cesses I have had in making vegetableand flower plants grow. (I usually forcethe issue with an abundance of MiracleGro, and still, I feel it’s a miracle if myplants grow very well.)

In any case, there I was, in late win-ter, in Vermont, with a foot of snowoutside, right in the middle of thespring planting and summer growingseasons, and I wasn’t alone. Severalstrange people, that is to say, severalstrangers ... who knows if they werestrange or not ... um ... anyhoo ... thesefolks were there alongside me taking inthe scents of the soil, reading the seedtray labels, and enjoying all of thoselush images of bountiful-veggiesspilling off row after row of seed pack-ets.

Some of my fellow spring-dreamerswere buying up the seed packs, by thehandful. I wasn’t sure why, as thereseemed to be plenty of the packets, andit was still a bit early to start any plantsup here. Then again, I was tempted tobuy some myself, although I wouldlikely have decorated my home withthem, taping those colorful reminders

of spring and summer all over theplace.

It should have come as no sur-prise to me that people were buyingseeds to take home through thesnow. Years ago, in my former lifeas a retail manager, the seasonal of-ferings of spring once came into thestores sometime before Christmas.A few of us diligent and dedicatedmerchandisers put a seed display ortwo out with the December decora-tions that year, and sold hundreds ofpacks of future-flowers and vegeta-bles as stocking-stuffers. It seemsthat even back then some peopleliked to have a reminder of springbefore the worst (or best) of winterwas upon us.

You know, it has recently dawnedon me that growing things is similarto writing, in several ways. Firstly,both activities are inexpensive andrewarding. Seeds are pretty cheap,and dirt is dirt cheap; so is a penciland a pad of paper. Also, planting

those seeds is very similar to plantingthe ‘seeds of an idea’. The Bible saysthat we will reap what we sow, andthat is true of life, of seed-sowing andof planting a thought on paper, togrow a piece of writing. Every year, atthis time, I begin planning my smallamount of planting, and writing a fewcolumns about the process. I willsoon start gathering the physical seedsand soils and starter-trays to makethose small, struggling thoughts aboutplants, into actual living, small, strug-gling plants.

If you are someone like me, who is

feeling a bit winter-weary, you mightconsider doing some planning, and,later on, some planting. If you’re awriter, I don’t have to tell you that youhave to write... you already know that.So, if you feel the need to write in latewinter or very early spring, you mightsow some words about your future‘sowing.’ If you are a gardener, or aplant-potter like me, (That is differentfrom a ‘pot’ planter ... a-hem) writingdown your thoughts about those won-derful future seedlings will make thegreen of summer seem all the closer.Happy seed and story sowing.

The spring dreamer’s guideto seed and story sowing


1. What is a myRA?The myRA (rhymes with IRA) is a new workplace

retirement savings account discussed by PresidentObama in the State of the Union address, and subse-quently authorized by executive order. The administra-tion hopes that employers who currently don't offer aworkplace retirement plan will make myRAs availableto their employees. Only limited details are currentlyavailable.

The myRA is a regular Roth IRA with some specialfeatures. Your contributions are made on an after-taxbasis, through payroll deduction. Your contributionsare tax free when withdrawn, and earnings are also taxfree if certain requirements are met. Contributionsare invested in newly created government bonds thatearn the same variable interest rate that's availablethrough the government's Thrift Savings Plan Govern-ment Securities Investment Fund (G Fund). (The GFund earned 2.45% in 2011 and 1.47% in 2012.)Your account principal is fully protected--the value ofyour account can never go down, and the bonds arebacked by the full faith and credit of the U.S. govern-ment.2. Is it available now?

No. It is anticipated that the program will start in2015.3. Do employers have to offer the myRA?

No. The plan is voluntary. Employers need tosign up by the end of 2014 in order to participatein the pilot program.4. Do employees have to contribute? Will em-ployers contribute to my myRA?

Employee contributions are totally voluntary;employers do not contribute.5. Who can contribute?

According to the White House, myRA accountsare available tohouseholds earning up to $191,000.6. How much can I contribute?

You can open an account with as little as $25,and additional contributions can be as little as $5.You can keep your account if you change jobs.Again, details are limited, but presumably you cancontribute up to the annual IRA limit (the limitfor 2014 is $5,500), and that would include all ofyour myRA, traditional IRA and regular Roth IRAcontributions. However, once your accountreaches $15,000 (or you have had the account for30 years, whichever comes first) you're required totransfer the account into a private sector RothIRA.7. When can I access my funds?

This is not entirely clear. According to theObama administration's instructions to the Treas-ury, you can access your funds if you have an emer-

Q&A on myRAsgency. It is not currently clear, however, if the regu-lar Roth IRA distribution rules--which don't limitwithdrawals to emergencies--also apply. You cantransfer your myRA account balance to a privatesector Roth IRA at any time.8. Why should I invest in a myRA instead of aregular Roth IRA?

The distinguishing features of a myRA are theability to contribute through payroll deduction, ac-cess to the new retirement bond, safety of principal,and the ability to make very small contributions.There will also be no fees to establish or maintainthe myRA. However, the myRA, with its single in-vestment option and $15,000 cap, lacks the flexibil-ity of a regular Roth IRA. If you can afford theminimum investment to establish an account, a reg-ular Roth IRA may be the better option.

Investment and insurance products and services areoffered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS,INC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Infinex and the bankare not affiliated. Products and services made avail-able through Infinex are not insured by the FDIC orany other agency of the United States and are notdeposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insuredby any bank or bank affiliate. These products aresubject to investment risk, including the possible lossof value.

INSIDE BANKING

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

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

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

By PETER J. KASLAUSKASINVESTMENT EXECUTIVE

Simply Be�er.

saversbank.com 800.649.3036 Member FDIC Member SIF Equal Housing Lender

Low rates, outstanding service anda loan from someone you can trust.

Apply for your loan today.

O�er of credit is subject to credit approval.

You Pick The Ride,We’ll do the rest.


NEWWAYS

By Stephanie Richards

Watching her workout, you’d never guess AndreaBeeman had open-heart surgery seven years

ago. The 45 year old said she is in the best shape of herlife and she credits it to CrossFit.

Six months ago, she began working out at CrossFitGrind Sturbridge and has seen results in ways she neverexperienced before. “I didn’t even know what CrossFitwas about. I had gone to the gym and done cardioworkouts. I’ve never really stuck with anything, butafter a week of CrossFit, I became addicted,” the Charl-ton resident said. “I had heart surgery; so no one cangive me an excuse that they can’t do it. I saw fast resultsand the weight keeps coming off; I’ve lost 30 poundsso far.”

CrossFit is a fitness regimen developed by CoachGreg Glassman that “optimizes fitness (constantly var-ied functional movements performed at relatively highintensity). CrossFit is also the community that sponta-neously arises when people do workouts together. Infact, the communal aspect of CrossFit is a key compo-nent of why it’s so effective,” according to crossfit.com

Kristy Flynn, owner of CrossFit Grind Sturbridge,loved the variety of it and the strength that comes from

doing it. A stay at home mom for 14 years, exercisehas always been her passion. She was a member at theYMCA for 11 years but got bored with workouts andwanted a different challenge. She tried CrossFit three

CrossFit Grind raises fitness bar

Omar Colon (second from left), Assistant Manager and Coach at CrossFit Grind Sturbridge, shows proper stretchingtechniques to members during a recent workout.

© 2014 Sturbridge Times photo by Stephanie Richards

Continued on page 27 (inside back cover)


When Massachusetts is at it’ssnowiest I get busy doing my

wine buying for the Spring season. Twocategories of wine best represent Springto me; dry Rosés and White Winesfrom Italy.

Many wine consumers find a fewstyles of wines that they like and stickto them. The familiar grapes types thatare made into France’s best wines likeCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, PinotNoir and Syrah are well known as redwine grapes as are Sauvignon Blancand Chardonnay for whites. Consumermay know Riesling from Germany,Pinot Grigio from Italy, and Malbecfrom Argentina. My guess is that mostwine drinkers are familiar with arounda dozen wine grape varieties.

Wine grapes are grown in every partof Italy. In the wine regions of Italy the

tradition remains to make wines fromlocal indigenous grape varieties. Astartling 350 different grape types areauthorized by the government and itis thought that as many as 500 moretypes exist. While it is impossible toknow them all it is well worth learningabout some worthy grape types be-yond just Pinot Grigio.

In most cases Italian White Winesuse the name of the grape as the nameof the wine just like Napa Valley winesmade from the Chardonnay grape arelabeled Chardonnay. The only trickypart is learning some new grapenames.

The Arneis grape makes the bestwhite wines of the Piedmont region.Look for those grown in the Roero dis-trict. It is bright and crisp with finebody and scents that may suggest hay,

wildflowers and almonds with fruitflavors of fresh pears and hints ofgreen apples. Buy the freshest avail-able from a good producer to servewith white fishes. This is an espe-cially good variety to serve with veg-gie dishes. Notable producer:Valdinera.

The grape Cortese or Cortese diGavi is produced into refreshingwines in Piedmont’s Gavi area. Thetop vineyard area is called Gavi diGavi but regional versions from topproducers are nearly as good atmuch lower prices. Straw-yellowcolor with scents of apples, grape-fruit and flowers. Fresh, mellow fla-vors with citrus tones and minerals.Gavi wines are easy to drink on theirown and they the perfect starter to adinner. Try them with raw or cookedveggies and some good quality oliveoil. Notable producer: Picollo.

The Pinot Bianco grape thrivesin the northerly regions of Trentinoand the Alto Adige where theygrown alongside some of the coun-try’s best Pinot Grigio vines. Thewines are often fuller-bodied that theGrigios with smooth satisfying tex-ture. The scents may suggest lemons

and hazelnuts with flavors of mature ap-ples and hints on pineapple. This is aversatile style of wine to match well withpoultry dishes, halibut and scallops. No-table producer: Castel Sallegg.

Falanghina is one of a trio of dis-tinctive white grape types indigenous tothe Southern region of Campania.While oak is not used for most of thewines made from the grapes in this ar-ticle some Falanghinas have a small per-centage of their juice aged for a coupleof months in small french oak barrels.This adds some texture to the finalblends. The wines are pale in color withfloral scents and hints of melon and al-mond. The wines are elegant on thepalate with fine balanced acidity and atouch of minerality. They work wellwith soft cheeses, chicken and shellfishdishes. Notable producer: Rocca delDragone.

The name Pecorino is better knownfor Italian cheese than Italian wine. Thegrape Pecornio is becoming betterknown as more wines come to America.This grape grows particularly well in theregion of Abruzzo alongside some ofthe country’s best-known red grapesMontepulciano. The best Pecorinowines are strong and full flavored. Their

WINECONNOISEUR

Refreshing Italian whites for springBY PETER SAGANSKY, IMPORTER-EXPORTER, CHARLES RIVER WINE COMPANY

In most cases, Italian white wines use the nameof the grape as the name of the wine.


color and body may remind you ofbetter unoaked Chardonnays but withtheir own flavor profiles. This wine isstraw yellow to golden with forwardscents of pears, citrus and wild greens.It has full fruit flavors, balanced acid-ity and bolder alcohol than many Ital-ian whites. Serve with Italian cheeses,white pasta dishes, steak fishes andshellfish. Notable Producer: Torre deiBeati.

The word Trebbianomay bring av-erage neutral wines to mind howeversome beautiful wines are producedfrom the variety known as Trebbianodi Lugana. Lugana is part of Italy’sLombardy region and it’s best winescome from premier cru vineyards dat-ing back thousands of years. This iswhite wine for white wine lovers- veryelegant with nothing missing but theoak. Gentle yellow with aromaticnotes of peach and vanilla. It seemsdry and fruity at the same time andvery smooth from start to finish. Itmakes the perfect aperitif or servewith a range of poultry, pasta andseafood dishes. Notable Producer:Tenuta Roveglia.

Albana is an intriguing grapegrown successfully in the Romagna re-gion. In the best vintages the color ofthis wine is deeper golden than mostlooking almost aged before its’ time.It is aromatic with scents of ripemelon, apricots, honey and wildflow-ers. Ripe peach and apricot flavors ac-cented by a bit of bitter almond in thefinish. This wine well accompaniesfried seafoods, roasted poultry andveal dishes. Notable producer: TreMonti.

Vermentino is grown in many re-gions in Italy. The best wines comefrom Sardinia, Liguria and Tuscany.These regions are very different fromone another as are their wines. My fa-vorite Vermentinos are those from thesouthern Island of Sardinia. Thescents and flavors suggest a winegrown near the sea. It is easy to drinkand refreshing with mellow bakedapple flavors, some crispness and asmooth texture. Notable producer:Castiadas Praidas

The grape name Gewurztraminermakes most wine consumers think of

Germany and Alsace. In recent vin-tages it has been difficult to find trulydry wines made from this grape fromthose classic European origins. TheAlto Adige with the most northerlyvineyards in Italy has come to the res-cue. “Gewurz” means spicy and“Traminer” is the name of a family ofgrapes. The grapes natural spicy notes

come out best when the wine is fin-ished to dryness. These wines can bearomatic with fresh fruit scents andhints of ginger and lychee. The tex-ture is rich, the flavors deep, and theacidity is present but low toned. Theseare great wines with spicy thai dishesand can hold up to Indian curries.They also work well with lobster and

sauced scallops. Notable producer:Castel Sallegg.

Sturbridge-based Importer and Dis-tributor Peter Sagansky runs CharlesRiver Wine Company. His wines arefeatured at The Winebuyer’s Outlet andat finer stores and restaurants through-out Massachusetts.


Jim Donahue making historic impact on OSV’s futureBy Stephanie Richards

PROFILE

J im Donahue likes to take on chal-lenges and sees times of crisis as timesof opportunity. This philosophy has

guided him toward making a historical impact on aplace he once sheperded kids to as an educator: OldSturbridge Village (OSV).

Since taking over as President and CEO in 2007,Donahue has led the early New England (1790 – 1840)living history museum to record attendance numbers,increased membership and successful fundraising.After seven years, there is more to accomplish and theOld Sturbridge Village (OSV) Board of Trustees agrees.In January, they voted unanimously to extend Don-ahue’s contract through June of 2017; the second ex-tension since his initial appointment.

The Cranston, R.I. resident’s path to OSV was any-thing but typical. With an economics degree fromColby College in Waterville, Maine, he began his careerin banking, but switched to education after discoveringa passion for teaching. Prior to joining OSV, Donahuewas CEO of the Bradford Dunn Institute for LearningDifferences and founded Highlander Charter School,both in Providence.

Donahue said two things attracted him to his cur-rent position. First, he knew OSV was at a crossroadsfor survivability with declining attendance and thatchallenge appealed to him. “The trustees were verytransparent about the issues facing the museum at the

time. I knew it could be the best or worst decision forme,” he said.

Secondly, words from now OSV Vice President Ed-ward Hood echo in his mind, he explains: “The searchconsultant suggested I spend a day here, even though Ihad visited with students as an educator. Ed Hood saidsomething very specific that struck me, ‘If the museumcloses, it will never come back again.’ There was, andis, a sacredness about OSV and I thought we can’t letthis great institution fail.”

The four-month search process was rigorous, butDonahue is grateful that the OSV Board saw potentialin him. “I know I was a risky hire for them (with no ex-perience working with museums or their collections)and I give them a lot of credit. OSV had great program-ming and staff, but had some issues with leadership,management, communication and fundraising. Ibrought the financial and ‘people’ skills.”

From the start, Donahue wanted employees to beinformed about the non-profit’s operation and wasshocked to hear that even the senior management teamhad never seen an income sheet. “I wanted to create aculture that was transparent. Employees needed a base-line understanding on how the operation works withrevenue and expenses; that included everyone from sen-ior management to maintenance workers to inter-preters. If employees know the categories and

Jim Donahue, President and CEO of Old Sturbridge Village© 2013 Photo by Erika Sidor

Continued on page 14


The Annual Ken Burns LifetimeAchievement Award at OSVEach year, documentary filmmaker Ken Burnsand Old Sturbridge Village honor individualswho have made a significant contribution tothe preservation of history through the arts withThe Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award.The 2013 award recipient was Academy Award-winning composer and Boston Pops LaureateConductor, Mr. John Williams.

© 2013 Photo by Bill Brett


Jim Donahue with Ann Lincoln and Crawford Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln is former President of Old Sturbridge Village. © 2013 Photo by Erika Sidor

Jim Donahue enters his next term

understand the issues, it helps themswallow the difficult decisions.”

The OSV Board of Trustees alsoneeded to have an open view of opera-tions and be utilized more as a resource.“There is a lot of anxiety in times of cri-sis, and it was (and continues to be) im-portant that the Board have a clearwindow on the operation from the start.Information is power,” he said. “Boardmembers come to OSV three to four

times a year. We have worked to involvethem more, ramping up committeesand doing conference calls. That hasalso resulted in a greater dollar commit-ment from them personally.”

Changes yield resultsIn addition to creating a transparent

working environment, Donahue identi-fied OSV’s strongholds and weak-nesses. Programming was solid andthere was a strong cheerleading base

from staff, the Board and donors.Support from the Town of Stur-bridge, local businesses and residentswas continous. But marketing, com-munication and fundraising neededto be addressed. RDW Group, aProvidence-based communicationsagency, was signed to handle mediaand marketing. Staff also identifiedanother area negatively affecting themuseum experience: lack of foodservice. Sodexho was hired to han-dle food service management. “Werebooted our marketing and publicrelations efforts with new branding.We had visitor research on whatpeople expected and that guided themarketing decisions. I spent onehalf of my time implementing thestrategy and the other half onfundraising,” he said.

The results of the efforts aremeasurable in hard numbers. Whenhe came, attendance was at 222,728and last year the number hit270,459 (includes a 10 percent in-crease the first year). Membershiphas also continued to rise, goingfrom 5,817 to 6,821 over the six-yearperiod. Last year, total revenuereached $7,350,871 and donationstopped $1,735,692.

Education and programminghave also experienced major im-provements. Donahue solidified a$500,000 partnership with CountryBank to fund the Village’s educa-tion programs that serve more than65,000 school children annually. Inaddition, other programming hasbeen enhanced by the creation ofthe Ken Burns Lifetime Achieve-ment Award, the launch of a Distin-guished Speaker series, and therebuilding of the Collections exhibitprogram, with a Collectors’ Forumat the beginning of each new ex-hibit. The museum has 50,000items in its collection.

Donahue also tackled the re-

opening of lodging at OSV, overcom-ing barriers and obstacles by a sur-prising change of events. Lodgingwas shut down in 2005 and underpurchase/sale agreement when Don-ahue began as president. The poten-tial buyers came back and wanted torenegotiate, but Donahue didn’t likethe terms and the deal fell through.He crafted a business plan to reopenthe facilities at a capital improve-ment cost of about $800,000, butthe OSV Board of Trustees felt it wastoo much to handle at the time.Donahue received a call from aTrustee who reported a bad lodgingexperience in town. OSV TrusteeRobert W. Reeder III and his wife,Lorraine, decided to underwrite thecost of the renovation and initial op-eration of the property. The 10-roomOld Sturbridge Inn, in the OliverWight House, is now on the Na-tional Register of Historic Places anddates to 1789. The Inn and 29-roomReeder Family Lodges (more con-temporary) opened last year and pro-vide the museum with overnightoptions for businesspeople, weddingparties, and corporate retreats ormeetings. Donahue said 60 wed-dings are already booked this yearcompared to 30 in 2013, and he at-tributes it to lodging availability andthe efforts of the sales team.

Another smaller but impactfulchange was moving OSV’s New Eng-land Bookstore from the back to theentrance of the Museum Gift Shop.“The book industry has been suffer-ing due to technology. We wanted totry and preserve an authentic book-store and make it more visible. Wewere able to stabilize our book busi-ness with the move and reduce thefootprint of the Museum Shop. Wegained a third empty space that isnow available for our catering busi-ness. It was one of the more enjoy-able decisions,” Donahue said.

Continued from page 12

s


Defying a down economySometimes success has come with

overwhelming surprises and addi-tional challenges. “The free Fridayhad a great response with 10,000 peo-ple arriving within 90 minutes ofeach other. We didn’t know what toexpect, but staff was engaged by park-ing cars and working together,” Don-ahue said. “Many workers said it wasa reminder of the 1970s when 6,000people would visit on ColumbusDay.”

And the museum has survivedand even thrived during some diffi-cult economic times under histenure. “There has never been a timewhen I have felt we couldn’t manageour way out of it…I’ve always felt con-fident. A year after I came, we saw in-creased attendance. Then in 2008,the market crashed, but we had asmall endowment that took usthrough the lean times. No matterwhat has transpired, fundraising con-tinued to go up and more peoplewere coming,” he said. “We’ve alsohad to make the difficult decision ofshrinking the management team; thework doesn’t go away and the teamhas to step up.”

Donahue says he makes decisionsthat are right for the specific time,but is always open to revisiting them.

“I’m not wedded to any solution. In2009, the full-time CFO left, and itmade sense to outsource. “Thingsare different now that we have lodg-ing and other things. So, we will re-visit the model we had before,” hesaid.

Changes at OSV have not goneunnoticed and Donahue has re-ceived much recognition for his lead-ership and achievements, includingthe 2013 Larry D. Meehan Award,presented by Massachusetts Gover-nor Deval Patrick to individuals whohave made major contributions tothe expansion and vitality of thestate’s tourism industry. However,Donahue is quick to point out thattransforming OSV into a viable mu-seum again is results from a team ef-fort. “The management team is solidand we’ve got a great Board ofTrustees, comprised of 23 membersfrom all over the country. They bringa mix of expertise and experience.OSV had a saying when I came here,‘One team, one dream.’ It’s the com-bined efforts of everyone that havemade it successful.”

Moving forwardDonahue’s people skills have not

only benefitted fundraising but alsothe organization internally. OSV has

164 employees and 231 volunteers. “Mystyle is not to micromanage. I hire peo-ple who know more about their disci-pline than I. At the same time, theyknow they can come to me for supportas I want everyone to be successful,” hesaid. “One time, there were two capableemployees who clashed a bit. I assignedthem a high level project to complete to-gether in six months and it broke thebarriers. I like to help people move for-ward.”

Perhaps that’s why improving em-ployee compensation is next on hisradar. “We need to do a better job ofcompensating staff. We have not madeprogress in that area and need to look atmoving the needle a little bit in terms ofcompensation and professional develop-ment. It’s important for us to developthe next generation of potters, tinsmithsand interpreters. When people comehere, they are a distinguishing factor.Visitors don’t want to listen to technol-ogy,” Donahue said.

As OSV approaches its 70th Anniver-sary in 2016, there are also issues involv-ing deteriorating infrastructure. “Wehave deferred maintenance on ourbuildings. With more than 100 of them,we are seeing infrastructure issues withutility, HVAC and water. In addition,some of our roads are 60 years old andin need of repair. I see weak compensa-

tion of staff as no different than a sinkhole ... both need to be addressed.”

Growth in OSV’s small endowmentis something else he would like to seein the future. Currently at $6 milliondollars, Donahue says it would be ap-propriately healthy at $20 million dol-lars. “I want my legacy to be leavingOSV in a sound financial position withmoney in the bank, and a strong Boardof Trustees and management team.When I feel I can no longer add value,it will be time to leave,” Donahue said.“In the beginning, I told another mu-seum director I thought it would takeme three years to turn things around;she said it would be more like 10. Shewas right.”

At the end of the day, Donahue sayshe loves the diversity that comes withleading the museum. “You are on thejob all the time, talking to donors,trustees, business leaders and staff.What I love is that every day is differentand there is never a dull moment…I’mbetter with breadth than depth,” hesaid.


is a mindfulness yoga, involvingbody, mind, heart, and spirit.For me, Kripalu took everythingI have ever done and summedit up,” said the Sturbridge resi-dent.

Although she never in-tended to open her own stu-dio, she felt a prodding afterthe training to share her pas-sion with a larger community.“I wanted to create a place inthe community where peoplecould drop in and experienceyoga without having to check tosee if space was available, or pre-register. I felt that Kripalu wasthe best choice because it hap-pens at a pace that reminds peopleto integrate the mind and bodyinto the present moment,” Laurasaid. “Life is so busy and frag-

Laura started doing yoga 19 yearsago, ordering a book through a YogaAssociation. “I would do 20 minutesof postures and apply proper breath-ing to the movements. I found it tobe an incredible way to empower my-self from the inside out–the love andcompassion I felt through jolted me.I did it at home for several years andthen started going to studios, even-tually deciding to do training andstudy many different styles.”

In October, she did a 30-day im-mersion training at Kripalu Centerfor Yoga and Health in the Berkshires.She has completed her 200-hour Reg-istered Yoga Teacher/Kripalu(Hatha/Raja) certification and is cur-rently working on her 500-hour designa-tion. “I have other training, and havetaught one-on-one and volunteer commu-

nity yoga. Kripalu

By Stephanie RichardsWhen you hear the word yoga, you may immedi-

ately think of a combination of mental and physicalexercise. While that may be true, Metta Yoga ownerLaura Elian says it is not just the integration of themind with the body; it’s really more about the mind.

around Sturbridgeyoga

R Be the change you wish to see in the world. – Gandhi T


mented, and Kripalu Style allows anyone at any skillto take their time and make the practice their very own.You tune into the sensation on the mat and learn tocarry that over to everyday life, radiating it to others. Iwant to help people, through yoga, to learn to live andsolve problems with an illumined awareness.”

Metta Yoga opened last month in Sturbridge Mar-ketplace (upstairs from Subway) in a 1,000 square footspace. Ninety-minute Kripalu yoga classes are offeredweekdays in the morning (as early as 5 a.m.) andevening and at select times on the weekend. Propsand mats (although you can bring your own) are pro-vided and Laura keeps things simple, not requiringadvance registration or payment (classes are offered atan introductory rate of $10). There is a drop box tomake payments and she says she likes to have the matslaid out so if someone is running late they can sign inand slip right in. “For props we use things like large,wooden kitchen spoons, and towels to stretch; it issomething anyone can do. Some people are intimi-dated to step inside a studio; I love having beginnersand seeing the transformation that happens whenthey loosen up,” said Laura, who is registered with theYoga Alliance.

There’s a misconception that you have to be flex-ible to do yoga, but that is just the outcome that de-velops over time, Laura says. “Each class begins andends with a meditation pose. I let the group decide ifwe will, for example, stay low on the mat or remaininverted over standing. We do two meditative posturesdoing three pranayamas (breathing warm-ups) andthen cover about 10 postures,” she said. “With yoga,you are exercising your mind. You don’t need to bendlike a pretzel to do it; it is the integration of the mind,body and breathing.”

Metta Yoga also offers Pilates Classes and Re-former Sessions on specific days at different rates. Re-former Sessions use a resistance machine that worksevery area of the body and is an intensive way to

quickly target lots of areas. Private yoga sessions can bescheduled as well as kid yoga-themed parties. “Kids learnto use breathing techniques, and I teach them how tobe grounded more in self-affirmation; it empowersthem. We also make things like mantra bracelets to re-mind them of what they learned,” she said.

Laura has a passion for encouraging foster teens andhas an open invitation for them to take a free class atanytime. This includes teens or families workingthrough You, Inc. or those in foster care. She alsoteaches a free weekly yoga class to at risk kids at Safe-House in Worcester. “I was in foster care when I wasyounger; I want these kids to know that despite anythingin their lives, the love that is within themselves is em-powering,” she said. “I want them to see that yoga canmake a difference in their lives.”

For more information on Metta Yoga, call774.200.0787 or on Facebook search “Metta YogaFiskdale.”

Other yoga studios in the area offer various styles ofclasses too. The Centered Place in Warren specializes inSvaroopa Yoga, a very gentle style of Hatha yoga that re-leases tension in the deepest layers of the body and canbe customized to each student, according to Phil Mil-grom, RYT, CSYT and co-director. Phil says yoga offersa holistic approach to relieving stress, which is why theyhave a saying, “instead of medication, turn to medita-tion.” A free newcomers class is offered from 2 to 4 p.m.the first Saturday of the month and provides an intro-duction to yoga as well as postures (they call them the

Magic 4) to practice at home. For more informationabout The Centered Place, call 413.436.7374 or go towww.thecenteredplace.com

In addition to offering Moderate Hatha, Vinyasaand Gentle yoga classes, Core Fitness, Wellness andExercises in Sturbridge recently began offering FreeYoga for Cancer (Y4C) classes. Instructor SharminWengender, R.N. and RYT 200, has been passionateabout yoga for 14 years and became certified in No-vember in Y4C, a methodology taught by Tari Prinster.The specialized Y4C classes are offered to cancer sur-vivors and those living with it as well as their families.For more information about Core Fitness, call508.344.3567 or go online to www.corefitnesswell-ness.com

Present Roots Yoga offers Vinyasa and Yin, and willsoon schedule Aerial and Mommy and Me Yoga, andHeated Vinyasa when they move to their new locationin Southbridge (currently in Sturbridge). Other classesto be offered in the new space include Pilates, Medita-tion, Nia and Kung Fu. In the summer, Yoga andKayaking workshops are held. The studio, owned byJenna Richardson, 200 hour CYT, has also held Com-munity Yoga classes to benefit Yoga Reaches Out, alocal non-profit organization dedicated to improvingthe lives of children (proceeds benefit Boston Chil-dren's Hospital and Citizen Schools). For more infor-mation on Present Roots Yoga, go towww.presentrootsyoga.com or Facebook "PresentRoots Yoga”


r MUSINGS FROM LONG HILL s

BY RICHARD MORCHOE

SAYIT ISN’T SO, MIKE!

If you ever get charged with a crime, you have a right tochoose who’s going to decide if you’re guilty or not; either ajudge makes the decision all by his lonesome, or several jurorshash it out together. Choose carefully.

For those very few of us who are charged with a seriouscrime the choice is easy. Go with a jury. All you have to do con-vince one of them that you’re not guilty and, at the very least,you’ll get a new trial.

Most of us, however, if we are ever charged with a crime atall, will be charged with something minor, such as drivingunder the influence.

You might choose a judge. But judges are human too andwhich judge hears your case may determine the outcome. Somehave reputations for being clearly pro-prosecutor. You have littlechance of winning in front of one of these. Conversely, someare clearly pro-defense and your chances here are much im-proved.

Your lawyer may know who’s easy and who’s tough and tryto get your case in front of an easy judge. This is called “forumshopping.” It’s not allowed and it often backfires.

Choosing a jury, however, has its own risks. Jury trials areexpensive and time consuming. Some judges seem to feel thatanyone who insists on a jury trial for a minor crime is takingadvantage of an option that should be reserved for more seri-ous matters.

As a result, if you choose a jury and it finds you guilty, thejudge, who gets to decide your punishment, may be inclinedto fine you more money, or give you more time in jail.

Of course this isn’t allowed either. And your lawyer will tryto steer your case away from these judges.

LEGALBRIEF

WHICH TO CHOOSE,JUDGE OF JURY?

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

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

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

STURBRIDGE ATTORNEY

ROBERT A. GEORGE, ESQ.

There is only one thing worse in life than to haveone’s heroes exposed as less than noble. It is a

personal disaster to hear that someone you never feltwarm and fuzzy about does something that forces areappraisal.

Sadly, Michael Stanley Dukakis has done that tome. I could never warm to the man. It’s part of myclass warrior persona. You always got the feeling thatthe Duke was talking down to you and telling you thatyou had to take the bad tasting medicine because itwas good for you.

The Duke, on his rise seemed over promoted.There was the No Fault Auto Insurance that he suc-cessfully steered through the General Court. Wasthat the panacea as promised? For all one knows, itmight be the best of all possible worlds. We do stillpay a lot for car insurance here.

In his successful run for governor, the bumperstickers read, “Mike Dukakis Should Be Governor.”The tone of the campaign was that the messiah wouldrelieve us from the scourge of the usual hacks. Theman was almost too good for us.

In his first term, he was celebrated for taking theMBTA to the Corner Office. If it was an attempt to

connect with the common man by an uncommonman, it did not work. An electorate that had notforgot his broken “lead pipe guarantee” of no tax in-crease put him on hiatus for a term.

Back in office, he would tout the short-lived im-provement in the state economy as the “Massachu-setts Miracle.” He hoped it would get him acrossthe Potomac, but his presidential candidacy in a lit-eral sense “tanked.”

There would be another call for new taxes as heentered the lame duck zone. The governor wouldpromote the still controversial Big Dig and wouldleave a bad taste in our region for supporting aprison in New Braintree that smelled of a sweetheartdeal.

His ambition was immense, but so was his desireto make a difference. A controversial English politi-cian who experienced it said, “All political lives, un-less they are cut off in midstream at a happyjuncture, end in failure, because that is the natureof politics and of human affairs.” True enough,Mike left office unloved and unlamented.

His post-electoral life is sweet. Few rememberContinued on next page

Shop at Sturbridge Marketplace


that he could not get elected dogcatcher after his lastterm. The Duke has his academic sinecure and enjoysthe plaudits of his class.

Contrast Dukakis with another Massachusetts pol,the late Congressman John Joseph Moakley. You re-member him. Well, you probably don't. He was notflashy and though he had a long career, his congres-sional accomplishments escape my mind. His con-stituents probably don't remember them either.

His big claim to fame was that he defeated LouiseDay Hicks. If you remember her, you are either a pol-itics nerd or you are giving away your age. She had op-posed forced busing when chairwoman of the BostonSchool Committee. Louise was crazy enough to thinkthat the idea of putting kids on buses and shippingthem off to neighborhoods not their own in an ethni-cally fractious city was absurd. She was delusionalenough to believe that her opposition could lead to asuccessful political career.

All the great and good got behind Joe to defeatHicks' congressional re-election bid. Joe said nothing.It was better for him not to. He won and went on to

an extended tenure as a mediocrity in the nation's cap-ital.

I was reminded that he was still alive shortly beforehis death. A new federal courthouse was to be namedafter him. On WBZ news one morning, I heard itmentioned and one of the solon's flacks was askedabout it. I can never forget his comment, “Joe, in hisown humble way, this was the only building hewanted named after him.”

The John Joseph Moakley United States Court-house is an ornate architectural monstrosity. Maybeit's not on the scale of the pyramids, but Joe was noAmenhotep. When looking at it, one would not saythis is the memorial to a humble man.

On January 31 The Boston Globe reported that itwas proposed that South Station be named The Gov-ernor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center atSouth Station. No news there. As noted above, struc-tures are named after public figures. Usually a manwho, in the words of Macbeth, “struts and frets hishour upon the stage and then is heard no more.”There may be a couple of geezers left who rememberMaurice Tobin of Tobin Bridge fame, but who theheck is Leonard Zakim of the Zakim Bridge?*

It was Michael Stanley's reaction that shocked me.He said No. Had I a pacemaker, the battery wouldhave shorted. This may not be unprecedented, butwho has years to research it? One should not cavil atthe act. Even if his reasoning might not be mine, it'sstill a noble sentiment and it pains me to say, a hum-ble gesture.

So Governor Duke, you have my admiration, butI will never forgive you for making me give up my re-sentment.

*I looked him up once and completely forgot whohe was a minute later. All I remember is that he was,in the words of the late Jerry Williams, “not a badguy.”

Former Massachusetts Governor, Michael S. Dukakis

In the words of thelate talk-show hostJerry Williams,Dukakis is not a badguy, after all.


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

INSURANCEGUIDANCE

Costly consumer mistakeson insurance

Many Americans are vulnerable to serious lossesthat are not covered by insurance and they

don’t even realize it.That’s one of the findings of a new national inde-

pendent survey conducted for Trusted Choice® andthe Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers ofAmerica (IIABA).

The survey found that 38 percent of consumershave never researched their insurance needs beforepurchasing insurance, while almost 40 percent ofconsumers said they were not confident or onlysomewhat confident that they have adequate and ap-propriate insurance coverage. In addition, about 61percent of survey respondents said they were onlysomewhat familiar or not familiar with the details oftheir insurance policies.

It’s critical that consumers understand the basics

of insurance, so they can protect their family, homeand property. A lack of understanding can lead toserious and expensive insurance coverage mistakes.If you don’t know what your insurance covers, youwon’t know whether you’re adequately covered andwhether you’re getting value for what you’re paying.

Addressing the most common mistakes that con-sumers make can not only improve insurance cover-age, it can save money. Trusted Choice®independent insurance agents identified the follow-ing as some of the most common errors they en-counter.

Mistake 1: Not Knowing Your Limits. Most consumers do not know the limits of their

coverage and only 29 percent of respondents sur-veyed considered coverage limits the most importantcriteria when selecting an insurance policy.

Consumers also don’t understand how inexpen-sive it can be to increase their limits. For example,the liability limits on a typical homeowner’s policycan be increased from $100,000 to $300,000 for aslittle as $25 a year. Many consumers also lack um-brella liability coverage, even though protection of$1,000,000 is available for as little as $130 a year.

Mistake 2: Disregarding Discounts.Consumers may qualify for discounts that they are

not aware of. Discounts may be available on home-owner’s insurance for installing a security system, liv-ing in a gated community, updating the roof orwiring, and remaining free of claims. Discounts maybe available on auto insurance for teen drivers withgood grades, for graduating from certain colleges oruniversities, or for carpooling. Discounts are alsooften available if you purchase two or more policiesfrom the same insurance carrier.

Mistake 3: Failing to Consider Insurance inEstate Planning.

Many people put their homes in trusts as part oftheir estate planning, but fail to tell their agent thatthe trust owns the home. In such cases, the home isno longer insured, because the owner is not on thepolicy. This can create problems when a claim isfiled.

In addition, consumers sometimes don’t list valu-ables or collectibles as part of their estate, becausethey don’t want them to be subject to estate taxes.Valuables, such as jewelry, and collectibles, such asart, require special insurance coverage. If there is a


loss, your heirs will not be compen-sated and will be deprived of your gift,unless everything is properly docu-mented and insured.

Mistake 4: Not Assessing YourBiggest Asset.

Your home is your biggest and mostimportant asset. While anyone whohas a mortgage is required to obtainhomeowner’s insurance, many home-owners have gaps in their coverage.

Specialty coverage is often neededin addition to a basic homeowner’spolicy. Failure to purchase sewer anddrain back up insurance, flood insur-ance, earthquake insurance, and ordi-nance or law coverage can result inclaims not being covered.

Also be certain to inform youragent of any changes in your propertyand to adjust coverage as improve-ments are made. Otherwise, your in-surance may not cover you when youneed it most.

In addition, if you sell, rent or leaveyour home vacant for an extended pe-riod, it will change the terms and con-ditions of your coverage. You are nolonger in control of what happens toyour home, so, if there is a loss, yourinsurance company could deny theclaim. Homeowners who plan to rent,sell or leave their home vacant should

check with their agent to learn thetime limit on vacancy or change of oc-cupancy before it alters or cancelstheir homeowner’s policy.

Mistake 5: Taking the CheapestRoute.

One out of four respondents tothe survey said that price is the mostimportant criteria when selecting aninsurance policy. Although priceshould be a factor in insurance deci-sions, choosing coverage based onprice alone could be a costly mistake.

Insurance policies differ widely,with varying deductibles, coveragelimits and exclusions. If you purchaseinsurance based strictly on cost, youwill save money, but only until youhave to file a claim and find thatyou’re either not covered or that youhave to pay a large deductible. Cheapinsurance is only cheap until youneed to use it.

Mistake 6: Not Meeting With YourAgent. The survey also found thatmore than a third of policyholdershave not met with or even talked totheir insurance agent within the pastyear. Insurance is complex. To makecertain you have adequate coverage,you’ll need to sit down and reviewyour coverage with your agent.

Be sure to keep your agent updated

about changes in your family or to yourproperty. A new baby, marriage, di-vorce, a death, home renovations or amajor purchase can have a significantimpact on your insurance needs andcosts, and can affect your existing cov-erage.

Richard A. McGrath, CIC, LIA isPresident and CEO of McGrath In-surance Group, Inc. of Sturbridge,Mass. He can be reached at [email protected].

This article is written for informa-tional purposes only and should not beconstrued as providing legal advice.


YARDWORKSBy Tom Chamberland, ISATom Chamberland is the Tree Warden for the Town of Sturbridge and a Certified Arborist

Caring for what grows in your yard

Getting ready for springMarch can be a cruel month for gardeners, as in

the old saying, in like a lamb, out like a lion.With the higher sun angles, any snow storms aremelted away in a few days, and what many of us call,the fifth season, mud season, happens in the monthof March. We are though also appreciative of Marchas it is Maple syrup time, our clocks “spring” forward,and we can almost feel and enjoy the warmth of thesun on our faces as we go about in the outdoors.

March is not the time to start outdoor gardening.The winter snows of this February have us all wantingto see any sign of spring, but the soft muddy soil can,when disturbed by walking, also damage the fineroots of our lawns and plants. Let the soil dry, maybein late March start up some potted plants orseedlings, or consider some of these options to helppass the month of March:

Attend a UMass Extension Home Garden Work-shop known as the Mass Aggie Seminar Series:

Each year the UMass Stockbridge School of Agri-culture, http://stockbridge.cns.umass.edu/ offers sev-eral workshops on topics of general interest tohomeowners and small scale farmers. In the pastthese workshops have been offered in fruit tree graft-ing, pruning, wildflower identification, and cidermaking. Eight hands-on workshops are being offeredin 2014, ranging from grafting fruit trees to native pol-linator conservation. They are presented by experts in

the field, and offer a good insight in plant care. I haveover the past years attended a few of these workshopsand found them all to be well worth the time andmoney (yes there is a registration fee) to attend.

The 2014 workshops being offered include:* Growing & Pruning Blueberries * Growing & Pruning Raspberries and other Bramble Fruit

* Pruning Apple Trees, a Hands-on Workshop

Locations and dates vary with each workshop. Goto https://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/mass-aggie-seminars for complete information and how tosign up.

Snow mold on your lawns:Snow mold can form where snow has been piled

deep and compacted blocking sunlight and restrictingthe plants ability to “breath” and now as we enterspring, sunlight and warmth does not penetrate andthese wet conditions allow a type of mold to form.This can happen especially in areas where there is adeep layer of lawn clipping mulch left from the previ-ous year’s mowing. It will look unsightly, a grayishwhite or pink mat on your lawn, but a good rakingwith a steel leaf rake to loosen up and “un mat” thislayer will kill off the mold and allow your grass to re

sprout. Knocking down these piles of ice and snow asquickly as possible once we start our spring thaw willalso help reduce the chance that you will have snowmold. If the mold lasts for several weeks, a grass killmay result, it that case, remove all dead material andre seed. For more information on snow mold visit:http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/snow-molds.html

Spring tool tune-up:If you did not put away your hand tools properly

last fall, now would be a great time to clean andsharpen the blades using a hand file and course steelwool. Also steel wool or lightly sand the wooden han-dles to remove splinters and apply a light coat of ei-ther 3 in 1 oil, wd 50, CRC 56 or any type of light oiland thoroughly wipe dry. This will prolong thewooded handles of your tools, you will be less likely towork up blisters, suffer a splinter, and keep the steelblades from rusting. Remember sharp tools makeclean cuts which will help your trees and shrubs healquicker. The same holds true for your lawn mower, al-though better to have been done last fall, March isnow the second best time to service your lawn mower.Change the oil, check/replace drive belts and sparkplugs, sharpen the blades, clean the underside of themower deck, charge the battery, and use some freshgasoline when first starting it up.


Early spring hiking evokes images of spring flow-ers like woodland trillium, gushing waterfalls

and the various calls of our early spring song birds.And for those of us who have huddled inside all win-ter, it's a time of giddy anticipation as we eagerlymake plans to get out on our favorite trails and alsoa time to get our "trail brain" on again. It's easy toforget some of the basic items you need in your packas you plan your first few hikes. So here are my tipsfor early spring hiking. Whether it is your first timehiking or your 1,000th, it's always wise to refreshyour memory about these important safety issues be-fore heading out.

BE PREPAREDMore than a Boy Scout motto, many hikers will

admit that they sometimes forget to pack an impor-tant item in their backpack, especially in the springwhen they are a bit out of practice. I have coveredthis in more detail in previous articles; every hikingparty should carry the Ten Essentials. These essen-tials are a topographic map, compass, extra food,extra clothing, fire starter, matches, sun protection,a pocket knife, first-aid kit, and flashlight.

Some of these are particularly important forspring hiking:

• Adequate extra clothing - It may seem warmwhen you begin your hike, but the temperature candrop precipitously on your journey and winds canbe mighty cold atop ridges or at lakes. Bring clothinglayers made of materials that wick sweat and mois-ture away from your body, such as wool or polypropy-lene. Don't leave your rain gear behind no matterhow cloudless the sky. Pack extra socks, should yoursget wet. And consider investing in gaiters to keepyour legs dry when crossing streams and brushing upagainst wet plants.

• Map and compass - Hikers should always carrythese items, but in the spring they are especially im-portant when hazards like snow and blow down canobscure an otherwise obvious trail.

• First Aid kit - When was the last time youlooked at your first aid kit? Spring is the time to openit up and replenish its stores. You'll be happy you did

when the first blister appears.• Food and water - Hiking makes you hungry

and thirsty. Don't skimp on the food and water.

HAZARDS OF SPRING HIKINGThe perennial spring hiking question is: where's

the snow? Or rather, where is there no snow? Thisyear has been particularly snowy so expect to findisolated snow drifts and ice in the deeper, shadedvalleys of our open space lands well into April.

Snow, rain, mud and blow downs are all trail haz-ards of spring. But the good news is that each week,these conditions get better. Snow melts. Rainy skiesgive way to sunny ones. Trail crews remove downedtrees and fix muddy spots on the trail (join a Stur-bridge trail crew to be part of the solution). So whatdo we really need to know about potential hazardson the trail to stay safe and have fun hiking in thespring?

Snow: Snow makes the trails look pretty. But it isslick (especially in the morning when cold nighttimetemperatures have turned it to ice); it can obscure anotherwise prominent trail. Hikers who want to pushon through snow should come prepared with trac-tion devices for their boots or snowshoes and goodroute-finding skills. All hikers should use commonsense. As tempting as it may be to push on to yourdestination, know when to turn back.

Water: Conditions can change quickly any day ofthe year, but particularly in the spring. Every hikershould carry rain gear and several layers of clothing,and anticipate changing the layers often to combatrain, wind, and sweat. It's easy to get chilled. Streamcrossings also deserve a mention. As the weatherwarms up and snow begins to melt these becomemore challenging and potentially dangerous, be ob-servant of wet logs and rocks that could be slippery.

Mud and Blow downs: Mud and blow downs arebyproducts of our northeastern winters, and are thetwo most common trail issues that the Sturbridgetrail maintenance team of volunteers combats eachyear. Even the best built sustainable trail surface cansuffer from mud and blow downs (ever see a potholefree road?). What happens, however, when you hit

the trail before a trail crew can get out and fix it? Ifyou possibly can, stick it out and slog right throughthat mud or under that downed tree. When hikerafter hiker tries to skirt a problem spot, fragile trailside vegetation are liable to be damaged. Keep yourbalance in these and other slick spots with trekkingpoles. And when navigating a blow down obstaclecourse, watch out for poking sticks.

FUN OF SPRING HIKINGNow that we're done telling you about the haz-

ards of spring, let us remind you of a few of the manyjoys:

• Unfurling fern fronds emerging from the duff.• Raindrops sparkling on the trees as the sun

pokes out from the clouds.• The sweet pungent scent of skunk cabbage.• Waterfalls and streams swollen with snowmelt.• Trillium and balsamroot brightening the way.• Hiking without bugs.

So let’s get out those hiking shoes and give thema coat of sealer, readjust your hiking stick, check youback pack for the ten essentials, and let’s get trekkingSturbridge.

Trekking in Sturbridge: Early spring hiking tipsBy Tom Chamberland, Park Ranger andAssociate Member of Sturbridge Trails Committee


PETS Q&AWITH KATHY MENARD

Dog pulling during walks, feet licking, puppy endurance

Q. I would love to walk my dog, but it isn't any fun be-cause he pulls constantly. I'm afraid he will pull me downand one of us will get hurt. How do I stop him frompulling?

A. A professional dog trainer can help. In order to breaka habit, you need to 100% prevent the behavior for a 12week period to erase it from their subconscious. Note, Idid not say correct the behavior, but rather prevent it.There are many tools on the market that can help whileyou're working on teaching a more appropriate behaviorwith a trainer. Your trainer may have a preference to aparticular tool.A head halter which goes over the muzzle and behindthe ears, with the leash attaching to a ring under the dogsmuzzle can be extremely effective. This method takes thedog a while to accept - they will try to rub or scratch it offin the beginning. Be sure to read the directions if usingthis method as it is possible to injure the dog if not usedproperly. Never let the dog run and hit the end of theleash with a head halter on (think whiplash), and never,ever tie the dog out while wearing one.

There are also numerous style of front attach har-nesses on the market, which work well with the majorityof dogs (but not all). The leash attaches to a ring on thedogs chest. The general principle is that if the dog pulls,the tension on the leash will actually turn the dog awayfrom what it is pulling toward. While this method worksthe majority of time, I have seen very large, strong dogsthat are not phased by it. It is important that this harness

be fitted properly, as with some of the styles, if itis on too loose the dog can actually step out of itif they pull hard enough. Not good, since you nowhave a loose dog. I prefer a style that connects thefront chest strap to the belly band with a strap be-tween the dog's front legs.

Don't forget to reward your dog for good be-havior. This alone can have a dramatic impact ontheir behavior. Carry some small, high valuetreats, and when the dog "checks in" with you, re-ward and praise him.

Q. I heard that licking the feet is a sign of foodallergies. My dog has been on the same food for-ever and has never had a problem, but she recentlykeeps licking the bottom of her feet. Do you thinkI should try changing her food?A. It is possible she has food allergies, but there

might be another culprit causing the problem. Doyou walk your dog? If so, it is also possible she isbeing irritated by the salt used on the roads andsidewalks. If you do walk her, try washing her feet(as opposed to just wiping them, which still leavessalt residue behind) as soon as you return fromeach walk. Be sure to dry them, as well.

Q. I just got a nine-week old german shepherdpuppy. I walk two miles twice a day, almost everyday. Can he walk that with me?A. As always, check with your veterinarian, but inmy opinion, no. A board certified Orthopedicsurgeon once told me that until they are 12months old, they should not walk more than 1/2mile at a time. I would not even go that far untilhe is at least four months old. If you are hikingthrough fields or woods, where they are stoppingto sniff, roll and play, you could go farther, butto be on a leash at your side I would limit to the1/2 mile (roundtrip total). It creates too muchstress on tendons, ligaments and joints.

Kathy Menard has been a dog trainer for over 35years and is certified through the Certification Coun-cil for Professional Dog Trainers. She has trainedunder three world-renowned Schutzhund trainers for14 years and has competed in the American KennelClub and the sport of Schutzhund, earning over 15titles. Kathy is the owner of Compatible Canine inFiskdale, MA and KT’s Pet Stop in Palmer, MA.


Spring cleaning is not just for houses

HEALTH&NUTRITION

By Lisa Bouley, MSSturbridge Times Magazine Nutritionist

As the spring equinox draws near and the daily tem-perature slowly begins to rise, we are often inspired

to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and clean outthe house. Getting rid of accumulated clutter and clean-ing the nooks and crannies of our homes can help us feellighter and brighter, as our living environments influenceour moods and functioning. But beyond cleaning outour homes, springtime is an invitation to cleanse our per-manent residences, our bodies.

Many holistic traditions recommend eating with theseasons. Heavier, denser foods are popular in winter.Stews and soups help warm us from the inside out. Butas the temperature begins to rise, and the trees are bud-ding with the young green leaves, we notice green allaround us. The green grass returns and green weedsemerge. If we are wise, we don’t look at these wild greenshoots as the enemy of a flawless lawn, but instead we re-alize that nature provides us the tools to begin our ownspring cleanse.

Spring cleaning for your body does not need to becomplicated. Here are some simple tools and steps tostart you on your way to a lighter and brighter spring.Begin by lightening the load on your plate. Increase theamount of fresh vegetables and fruits that you are eatingeach day. Add more raw foods to your diet. Enjoy youngspring greens such as arugula or dandelion greens lightlysteamed or in a salad. You can purchase a combinationof baby spring greens in what is aptly named “SpringMix,” available in both natural food stores as well as the

chain grocery stores, such as Stop and Shop, Shaws,and Market Basket.

Consider joining a local CSA (Community Sup-ported Agriculture). Heavens Harvest Farm of NewBraintree, MA is a local organic farm that sells pro-duce shares (small, medium, and large shares whichrange in price from $30 to $50 per week). Each weekmembers collect a box of fresh produce and receivedetails about their share contents, including creativerecipes which incorporate the week’s share The localHeavens Harvest CSA drop off is on Wednesdays be-tween one and six pm, near the local Shaw's super-market (in Sturbridge). For more information aboutHeavens Harvest Farm, additional drop off points,and membership, you can visit http://www.heaven-sharvestfarm.com/

As we open the windows of our house to let in thecleansing fresh air, to properly cleanse our bodies, it isimportant to open our channels of elimination.Avoiding clogging our pores with heavy moisturizers,as much as possible, to allow our skin to breathe is agood first step. A brisk walk or run in nature worksour heart and lungs, allowing our bodies to pumpoxygen laden blood throughout our bodies. Increas-ing the amount of “roughage,” in our diet, addingmore fiber rich raw fruits and vegetables, allows thecolon to properly eliminate waste and function prop-erly and expediently.

Some opt for a juice fast, spending a few days con-suming only freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. How-ever, though juicing can be very invigorating andcleansing, be sure to include a fiber based cleansingproduct (available in natural food stores) or haveother colon cleansing plans, as the goal of springcleanse is to both nourish the body and assist withelimination of toxins that have accumulated through-out the year.

Whatever path you choose for a spring cleanse,enjoy the journey. When we eat lighter and healthier,we feel better. It is not until we eliminate some of ourheavier fare that we realize by comparison, how muchheavier and groggier we felt in the past. Lighter eatinghelps clear the mind and add spring to our step.

Some spring cleansing recipes:Massaged Kale (Other greens can be substituted

for kale… be creative and enjoy!)1 bunch (or more) of kale or other baby greens.

Wash well, remove stems, and break into small pieces.

Add a splash of cold pressed olive oil and a splash ofEden Foods Umeboshi Vinegar (a naturally fer-mented vinegar, found in most natural food storesand available on-line). Mix the greens with the dress-ing well, adding more to taste (Taste dressing and a bitof the greens to assure the right level of salt and oil –Umeboshi Vinegar contains sea salt, so no need toadd extra salt). The dressing should completely coatthe greens, but there should not be a great deal drip-ping out if you squeeze the greens. Allow to sit forone hour, after massaging / mixing well. The greensshould become tender and be quite delicious!SIMPLE SALAD DRESSING

The simplest dressing combines citrus (freshlemon juice) with salt (sea salt or soy sauce type condi-ment) and oil. Juice one lemon and add to washedspring mix. Add a dollop of soy sauce (Ohsawa brandNama Shoyu is a delicious naturally fermented soysauce, available in natural food stores), and coldpressed oil (flax seed, hempseed, or olive oil). Mixwell and season to taste. Many of us are inspired toeat a large bowl of greens when the dressing is justright!SEED-BASED SALAD DRESSING

Soak raw nuts or seeds, drain, and rinse, then addfresh lemon juice,, soy sauce, Nama Shoyu, or sea saltto taste, as well as enough water to blend. Add freshor dried herbs to create a variety of sensational dress-ings…. Whether it is curry, turmeric, cumin, and mus-tard seed to create a dressing with an Indian flavor, ororegano and basil to create an Italian flavor, or anynumber of other possible combinations, herbs helpchange the flavor and liven up recipes!HOW TO SOAK AND SPROUT SEEDS.

Any raw nuts and seeds benefit from soaking indrinking quality water. Rinse and soak in twice asmuch water as there is seed, in a glass jar or stainlesssteel bowl, for 6-8 hours for sunflower seeds andsmaller seeds, a bit longer for nuts. Rinse after soak-ing and add to recipes

Sprouting jars can be purchased at natural foodstores and on-line. Ball jars work fine, along withsprouting lids or mesh screen held on with a rubber-Rinse dry grains or beans and fill sprouting jar about¼ of the way and then fill up with water and allow tosit 7-8 hours. Then drain, rinse, and set at 45 degreeangle, with sprouting lid or mesh facing downward (adish drainer holds the jar in the optimal draining po-

Continued on next page


A look at long-distance workouts

Lisa Bouley

HEALTH&FITNESSBy Matt Coleof Everybody’s Fitness, Sturbridge

bout that serves as active recovery, such as a slowrun or jog for 90 seconds. It is important to realizethat any form of exercise makes us hungry.

Due to a series of hormonal events, mainly in-volving insulin, we will be enticed to eat after ourtrip to the gym. Unfortunately, after low-intensityexercise the amount of total calories we will burnmight not make up for the increase in caloric in-take from eating more. This is why many peoplewho use long distance training as a form of exercisefor fat loss end up frustrated with a lack of weightloss, and in some cases may even face a weight gain.When you burn more calories for up to 48 hourspost-exercise with high-intensity exercise, this typi-cally resolves the problem and allows us to see theimprovements we are working so hard to achieve.

LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING & JOINT ISSUES

I would also like to take a look at joint issues. Ican’t tell you how many runners I have seen whocomplain of knee pain, and who struggle mightilyto simply touch their toes. During long distancerunning, we are typically only using a small amountof hip flexion. That is, the knee on the lead legdoes not have to come up too high. Repeating thismovement in a loaded manner, such as running,will not help those who have hip restrictions, andif anything will help engrain this movement patternof very little hip movement into the nervous sys-

tem, thus making hip range of motion (ROM) evenworse. Knee pain may arise from two areas relatedto distance running.

First is the glaringly obvious repetitive poundingon the knee that long distance running causes. Typ-ically people run on pavement or other hard sur-faces which will only exacerbate the pounding, andcause more knee pain. Second, problems with theknee rarely arise because there is only somethingwrong with the knee. The knee is an inherently sta-ble joint, only moving in flexion and extension.When mobility issues arise in the ankle or the hip(we just talked about how long distance runningcan cause issues with hip mobility), our body willtry to get mobility to accomplish the movementfrom the path of least resistance. In some cases thiscan be from joints like the knee that are not sup-posed to be excessively mobile. Sprinting or run-ning faster, for a shorter period of time can remedyall of these issues, as it requires much more hip flex-ion and extension, and reduces the total amountof pounding on joints significantly. It is importantto realize that in many instance pain is a goodthing. It is our body’s way of letting us know thatsomething is a threat to our homeostasis and tostop doing the movement that causes us pain. Ifyou have knee pain while running, or doing any ex-ercise for that matter, please stop what you aredoing, and get it assessed by a qualified profes-sional.

This column will be continued in our April issue.

LONG-DISTANCE TRAINING AND FAT LOSS

If fat loss is the goal, many people will go to thegym and spend an hour on the cardio equipment oftheir choice, whether it is the treadmill, elliptical,bike, etc. This long distance, low-intensity exerciseuses aerobic energy systems, which, in turn, use fatfor fuel, so while you are exercising you are burningfat at a higher rate than you normally would.

High-intensity exercise uses primarily anaerobicenergy systems, using carbohydrates instead of fats forfuel. This is why long-distance training has typicallybeen recommended over high-intensity exercise forfat loss. This steady-state, low-intensity exercise alsoraises what is known as your Excess Post-Exercise Oxy-gen Consumption (EPOC) for up to two hours afteryour run. In English, this simply means your cells areusing more oxygen, and so you are burning more calo-ries than you normally would for up to two hoursafter you exercise.

In contrast to low-intensity exercise, high-intensityexercise such as sprinting, or resistance training canraise your EPOC, and thus the amount of caloriesyou burn, for up to 48 hours post-exercise, which wecan see is much more effective than the two hoursEPOC is raised after a long, low-intensity bout of aer-obic exercise. An example of this is what we call high-intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT involvesexercise at a high intensity for a short duration oftime, such as sprinting for 30 seconds. This high-in-tensity bout is followed immediately by a low-intensity

SPRING TAKES

FLIGHT

139 Main StreetSturbridge, MA 01566

GARIERI JEWELERS

Free PANDORA Bracelet or Bangle

March 20-23

sition). Rinse twice a day and re-frigerate when sprouts becomevisible. Grains and beans areready to eat when the tail of thesprout is as long as the seed.Keep in refrigerator and rinsedaily, draining well, and returningthe jar to the refrigerator.Sprouted beans and grains maybe added to salad or lightlycooked and added to otherdishes. They are packed with nu-

trients and full of water and fiber.Always use drinking quality waterfor soaking and rinsing sprouts.Use sprouts within 5 days ofsprouting.

Lisa Bouley, MS, can be reachedvia email at [email protected] .She can also be reached via telephoneat 978-973-5736 for nutiritonal con-sultations.

If you have a question you wouldlike Lisa to answer in this columnplease write to her at the email address

Continued from last page


CrossFit Sturbridgeyears ago at a gym in Putnam, CT. “Itwas hard but exhilarating to me. I had re-lationships at the gym before, but I no-ticed a different support system withCrossFit…especially among women,”said Flynn, who previously lived in Stur-bridge before moving to Woodstock, CT.

It was that experience which inspiredFlynn to open CrossFit Grind Sturbridgein the former Rom’s Restaurant buildinglast September. “The reality is that Cross-Fit is geared toward any fitness level andis life-changing,” said Flynn. “I’m pas-sionate about anything fitness-relatedand I had a vision for this place. We havelots of friends in Sturbridge and wanteda gym here.”

CrossFit Grind Sturbridge has tworooms with rubber flooring and mirrorson the wall, and sports a variety of fitnesstools, such as weight benches, Kettlebells,bars, weights (for Olympic weight lifting),rings, and jump ropes. “It is different be-cause each workout is varied and that ad-

dresses the boredom issue; you don’treach plateaus. The workouts are shortand high intensity, maybe 15 minutes,but you push hard a bit beyond yourcomfort zone,” Flynn said. “The move-ments are functional (helping you movemore efficiently as you get older) and in-volve the whole body to strengthen thecore to extremity; it’s about power at thecore and good form. A big factor is to al-ways have full range of motion; if aweight is too heavy you loose your form.”

Olympic weight lifting can be intimi-dating, but Beeman said there are modi-fiers for everyone. “The coaches are verymotivating and I started with just a bar.You try for a better time, to lift more, gofaster. You can do it when you put yourmind to it,” she said. “I’ve had a dra-matic change in everything in my life. It’simpacted me more than just weight loss.I feel better about myself because I amphysically and mentally stronger. If it did-n’t happen to me, I wouldn’t believe it.I’m committed to it; I rush home after

working in Boston to do Crossfit fourdays a week.”

A wipe board on one wall keeps a per-sonal record for clients to benchmarktheir measurement and see progress instrength. Another board has the “rules”of the gym, including keeping things or-ganized, providing positive encourage-ment to others, wearing appropriateshoes and clothes, and leaving a bad atti-tude at the door and turning it aroundwith a great workout.

Flynn is a CrossFit Level One Trainer,completing an American National Stan-dards Institute Program Certificate atReebok’s CrossFit One facility in Can-ton. The two-day course included a com-bination of lectures, movement sessionsand workouts based on methods, termsand movements that are foundational toCrossFit. “You put time into coachingand then pursue certification. It was aphysically and emotionally challengingweekend, but it was great,” she said.

CrossFit is a training regime for men

and women of all ages and body types,Flynn said. “We have a program for kidsages 7 to 14 years old. Ages 15 and upcan workout with adults, which includemany beyond their 50s,” said Flynn, whois 50. “CrossFit Grind is hard but gearedto men and women at any age and fitnesslevel. It is about being strong and power-ful. Plus, it facilitates a high functioningmetabolism, making it easier for womenin particular to get rid of the weight thatcomes with age.”

Free trial classes are offered at Cross-Fit Grind in Sturbridge at 9 a.m. on Sat-urdays on an ongoing basis. “We talkabout CrossFit and might use the Kettle-bells or pull up bands, but we don’t doOlympic weight lifting,” Flynn said.

Membership to CrossFit Grind Stur-bridge is $115 a month or $100 a monthwith a one-year commitment. Discountsare available for families, students andmilitary/fire/police.

For more information, call774.200.5517 or go to crossfit-grind.com.

Continued from page 9

m sturbridge timesrise of the warrior cop: the militarization of america’s police forces by radley...

Documents