Feature Articles

By Dr. Kelly Wolfenson Guay

And so our thoughts turn to spring's arrival, and love.  Here are tips on how to best love your pet and make caring for your furry friends a year-round valentine.

1. Quality food makes a huge difference in our pets' health, skin, coat, and even stool quality.  Many pets develop allergies at any age to many common ingredients found in commercial pet foods.  Chicken, beef, and wheat are c... Read More

Business Profile by Magda Dakin

SUTTON - Is Chinese food on New Year’s Eve a tradition in your family? Was it as good this year as you thought it would be?  At the Peking Garden, New Year’s Eve was, as we say in New England, “wicked busy.”  Owner and Chef Jian Lin said: “We have so many loyal customers who come back week after week and especially for their special occasions.” On New Year’s Eve a handwritten note on the doo... Read More

“When I started working as a travel agent twenty years ago I had to write out the tickets by hand,” says Mary Anne Fontaine. “It was awful, awful, awful.”

Professional travel agents have weathered a lot of changes in their industry in the last few decades, not the least of them that many web-savvy travelers consider agent roles obsolete in light of online ticket bookings.

However, as global travel becomes more compl... Read More

SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. – January 7, 2015 – Effective January 1, 2015, the Harrington Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) has moved to a lower cost tier on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts insurance plans, resulting in lower co-pays for those who use Harrington services.

The change is a result of Harrington’s recognition for its high quality performance and system-wide cost reductions. Harrington was one of 60 urban ho... Read More

You probably know how to respond when someone is experiencing a physical crisis, but do you know what to do in a mental health emergency? Alternatives, one of Central Massachusetts’ leading human service providers, is inviting all school personnel, clergy, and other interested members of the community to attend a training on Mental Health First Aid on Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23, 2015.

Early intervention is... Read More

BLACKSTONE VALLEY – The Pleasant Street Church in Whitinsville will launch a new weekly 12-step recovery program called Celebrate Recovery on Monday, January 19.

Celebrate Recovery is a Biblically-based 12-step program that uses the principles of the Beatitudes as the foundation for recovery.  It is designed to help heal a wide variety of habits and harmful behaviors, including dependency on alcohol and drugs, pornography,... Read More

Each year, Harrington HealthCare System participates in the “Angels” program to give back to those in need. Organized through Catholic Charities, Harrington receives a number of angel tags with a child’s name and clothing size, which are then distributed to our employees. Catholic Charities picks up all the gifts and gives them to families in need in Southbridge and surrounding areas. This year, Harrington gave clothing and shoes... Read More

Business Profile by Magda Dakin

AUBURN - I love the silky smooth surface of my newly-cleaned teeth after having them done by the professionals. Your tongue keeps gliding along the surface and it makes you smile, all he better to show off your bright clean teeth. At Francis L. Kach D.D.S.P.C. General & Family Dentistry, located on Route 20, there are lots more reasons to make you smile: it is easy to find, has plenty of... Read More

by Jacleen Charbonneau

There is no doubt the holiday season inspires many to share acts of kindness or lend a helping hand. Throughout the Blackstone Valley, however, a number of charities and non-profit organizations are sharing such kindness each and every day, providing care for members of our communities who have a need. 

The Northbridge Association of Churches, a group of eleven local churches... Read More

WORCESTER - “I love it when the dogs come in eager for their day’s adventure. I know I’ve done a good job when they aren’t afraid to walk in the door.”  Owner and full time dog groomer Rachel Sargent also says she loves what she does and is as happy to be here as the dogs themselves.  She adds that most dogs like to be clean even if they don’t always cooperate in getting that way.

Every day she is surrounded with all those... Read More