By Christine Galeone

Although February is the month when New England seems to generally get the most winter storms and frigid temperatures, it’s also a month that’s filled with heart. Valentine’s Day is the most popular of the month’s holidays. And in addition to being Black History Month, it’s National Heart Health Month.

We certainly don’t have to look far to find a lot of heart in Grafton businesses and organizations.  Recently, some have been part of heartwarming events. Others are helping people to have healthy hearts.

Last month, Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, located in North Grafton, announced that its Tufts University Police Department Officer Brett Morava and Lt. Glenn McCune had recently received the Lifesaving Award from the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators for saving the life of a person who had been working on a high-power electrical line near the school. They did so by using an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore a normal rhythm to the person’s heart – which had stopped beating after a power line accident caused the person to go into cardiac arrest. In a press release statement, McCune, who along with Morava had been trained to use the AED, said, “It was only after we got the AED units that we were able to bring people back, and the AED has been used successfully on other campuses as well.”  

The Grafton Senior Center is trying to help seniors to keep their hearts healthy. The center just added a Tone and Stretch class to its schedule of exercise classes that includes Breathing and Healing Chair Yoga, Fall Prevention Exercise, Gentle Chair Barre Exercise, Zumba and Senior Exercise Class.  

Similarly, Grafton Community Television has also been helping seniors. GCT has continued airing the center’s Balance and Fall Prevention class at 10:30 a.m. every day and Tuesdays at 4:40 p.m. The center’s Fit for Life class is broadcast on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and at 8 p.m. The classes can be viewed on Ch. 34 on Verizon and Ch. 191 on Charter.

One recent community effort brought many people together in an outpouring of care and concern. All Phase Glass Corporation, which is located in South Grafton, once again held a heartwarming and vital drive to help people in need. Michael A. Labbe, the president and owner of the company, and his wife, Carrie, united with family, friends, employees and the community to collect and transport thousands of dollars-worth of supplies to aid victims of the recent tornadoes in the Midwest and the South. They collected and delivered items such as food, bottled water, generators and bedding. 

UniBank, which has a North Grafton branch, is helping local businesses to look forward to brighter days. It’s supporting them by being the Presenting Sponsor (and an exhibitor) for the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Home and Community Expo. The annual family-friendly event will return this year. It will include live entertainment, a chowder festival, a green living pavilion and more. It will be held Saturday March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northbridge High School.

One new business in Grafton helps children keep their hearts healthy, since good dental hygiene is important to heart health. Pediatric Dental of Grafton recently opened and is now accepting new patients. It’s located at 78 Worcester Street in North Grafton, and its phone number is 508-827-8777.

  Finally, another Grafton business played an important role in a heartwarming event. Quite Fetching, the barkery and pet boutique located at One Grafton Common, provided the specialty birthday cake that was given to Socks the Fox. The cherished resident of Worcester’s EcoTarium recently celebrated his 12th birthday. 

The chilly weather and the snow-covered landscapes are fleeting. But some of the heartwarming influences of February can last for years to come.

Please note that this information was correct at the time the column was written. However, because the pandemic is rapidly changing things, it’s best to check the websites and social media pages of any business to see if new changes have been implemented. Contact Christine with your business news items at [email protected].