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A 9-year-old boy battling cancer in North Grafton, Massachusetts, had his wish fulfilled on Friday in a large celebration as Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island marked its milestone 10,000th wish granted.

Kyle Osterman, who is undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, wished to have a treehouse in his backyard but not just any treehouse -- one that's furnished. Kyle told NBC10 Boston that he wanted LED lights, a chair, pictures, shelves, a desk, speakers, books and more in his dream treehouse.

With significant artistic input from Kyle, the W.T. Rich Company of Natick was able to make his vision a reality, along with numerous local businesses including Cardi's Furniture.

"Thank you to the team at W.T. Rich Company and its partners for creating a fantastic space where Kyle can play, create, and dream," the organization said in a Facebook post. "His wish has given him so much to look forward to."

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Dozens were in attendance at the Osterman's home Friday as "Kyle's Krib" was unveiled in a special wish reveal complete with surprise guests, including Jeff Kinney, the best-selling author of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series.

Kinney said he heard Kyle was a fan of his books, so he made him a special Wimpy Kid drawing, with the custom art piece now hanging in Kyle's Krib.

Besides his family and friends, others on hand to celebrate Friday included representatives from the Worcester Red Sox, Make-A-Wish members including CEO Sean Holleran, the CEO of W.T. Rich Company, Kyle's Make-A-Wish volunteer team Jeff and Laura Wormuth, and other Make-A-Wish supporters, including the family of the organization's first ever wish recipient -- Colleen O'Brien of Wilmington, Mass.

"As we grant Kyle’s wish, the celebration also honors the thousands of wish children and families we have served in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and our community of supporters who have helped fulfill wishes over our 40-year history," the organization said, noting that more than 25 local vendors and individuals helped fulfill Kyle's wish in collaboration with W.T. Rich Company.

Support for the wish and celebration came from all corners of the organization's territory.

The day started with students from the Make-A-Wish Club at Ashland High School welcoming Kyle with a spirit tunnel as he arrived to his wish reveal. After exploring his completed treehouse, the joyous occasion continued with a private party for Kyle and his family and friends hosted by Make-A-Wish partner Red Robin -- and there was even an ice cream truck.

Kyle was also surprised at the event by Smiley Ball from the Worcester Red Sox and with gifts from Hasbro, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and former Boston Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald.

From start to finish, it was a dream day for Kyle.

"It's crazy just to think that I'm the, I'm the one that got the 10,000th wish," Kyle said. "I mean it's insane."

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. With the help of generous supporters and more than 500 volunteers, the organization has now granted the wishes of 10,000 children in Mass. and RI since it was founded 40 years ago.

GRAFTON – For Grafton High School Salutatorian Anthony Lam, he didn’t understand the phrase “life is short” until recently.

“I’m realizing now that we’re not as invincible as we thought we once were – that we were quickly growing up and leaving our childhood behind,” said Lam during graduation.

Lam was one of the 226 seniors who walked across the stage of the Hanover Theatre on June 1 to receive their diplomas.

He noted that the seniors have grown up together and are now growing apart together.

“I’m bittersweet that the very faces that I’ve seen for the past 12 years of my life will no longer be part of my every day, but in exchange, we’re all going on our different walks of life, chasing after aspirations and becoming the very people we truly dreamt of becoming,” Lam said.

He urged his fellow graduated to take a break and reflect on their surroundings.

“As you move onward, I want you to continue to enjoy life, remember to stop for a second and truly savor the present,” Lam said.

The ceremony featured speeches by Principal Kevin Carney and Noelle Fedor and several musical performances, including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by Eilidh Deans; Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” by Isabelle Geoffroy and Amanda Murdock and Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” by Sylvia Cahill, Julia Chaisson, Deans, Meroska Gouhar, Sean McGlynn, Murdock, Maggie Mussler and Zander Shaw.

Following a series of thank yous, Valedictorian Kathryn Branda turned to address everything the senior class had accomplished.

“This speech was honestly not easy for me to write,” Branda said.

She said the speech reminded her of a college essay and also because there was too much say. As a class, she said the seniors have found ways to influence their communities, whether it was establishing a club, leading a team, creating art or mentoring another student.

She also mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted three out of their four years at Grafton High School.

“Although our high school experience may have been atypical, I believe that our class made the best of the opportunities that we did have, especially in our final year when with no restrictions,” Branda said. “Class of 2023, it has been a privilege to learn and grow up alongside all of you. I am so proud of all that we have done as a class, and I cannot wait to see what we do in the future.”

The ceremony can be viewed here.

GRAFTON – When the Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium, residents will decide on 35 warrant articles.

The first 12 articles will be part of two consent agendas. Articles 1-3 deal with financial issues for the current fiscal year; articles 4-12 involve day-to-day municipal matters (except for Article 5, which asks for the appointment of Bridget Webber as a trustee of the Nelson Park and Memorial Library and Building Fund).

Along with deciding on the town’s operating and capital budgets, Town Meeting will determine whether to allow accessory uses in agricultural and residential districts for seasonal outdoor dining, live entertainment and alcohol sales.

Article 29, submitted by the Planning Department, is being presented by Houlden Farm on Wesson Road. The proposal would help the farm stage its seasonal Sunflower Shanty, which offers outdoor dining, live music and alcohol sales.

Last year, organizers ran into problems with obtaining beer and wine licenses, and they had to curtail its schedule of live entertainment by order of the town.

Article 30 asks the town to enter a tax increment financing agreement with Feedback Earth Inc; Article 31 will petition the General Court to change the position of town clerk from elected to appointed; Article 32 is a request to appropriate $7 million ($3.5 million from a debt exclusion, $3.5 from the road stabilization fund) to fix George Hill Road.

The total budget for fiscal 2024 is $73,143,829 – about $3 more than in fiscal 2023.

Education takes up about 59% of the budget, at $43,427,796; $4.4 million is budgeted for public safety, while $13.4 million is for general government.

Capital item requests include $100,000 to help replace equipment at the Norcross Park Playground; $104,000 for a lease on Fire Engine 3; $100,000 toward renovations for Fire Station 2; $20,000 for a master plan for the Planning Board; and $70,000 to a roof replacement at the Millbury Street Elementary School.

The warrant includes three citizens’ petitions – to accept Joncas Terrace as a public way; to join in the call to change the Massachusetts flag and seal; and to dissolve the existing affordable housing trust and to transfer the assets to the town’s municipal stabilization fund.

The warrant is available here.

Watch the Town Meeting Warrant Article Spring Review Spring 2023 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXe_GC_xEpA

GRAFTON – Amid the research into soil, traffic, water and affordable housing, abutters of the proposed development at 59 Pleasant St. continue to ask about safety, traffic and possible environmental impacts.

During a public hearing conducted by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, May 17, the ZBA joined representatives from the applicant, 59 Pleasant St. Properties LLC, in presenting updates and fielding questions.

Plans for the Reserve at Pleasant Commons call for a total of 104 units across four multifamily apartment buildings – the market-rate units will include 24 one-bedroom apartments; 45 two-bedroom apartments; and nine three-bedroom apartments. The affordable units will include four one-bedroom apartments; 15 two-bedroom apartments; and seven three-bedroom apartments.

The 12.4-acre site is currently owned by members of the Wasiuk family, subject to a purchase-and-sale agreement with the applicant.

Half of the site would be donated to the town for open space and conservation purposes.

As part of the plans, developer Eastland Partners of Worcester will install a sidewalk and a 14-foot-tall privacy berm.

A possible switch from peaked roofs to flat roofs drew criticism from ZBA member William Yeomans.

“The design is a major issue in my mind,” he said. “I think the flat roof is ugly. This should be addressed sooner rather than later.”

Todd Kramer, who lives on Peters Way, wrote to the ZBA that he supports the project.

“Eastland has agreed to help mitigate drainage that has caused flooding to occur on our property,” he wrote. “They have agreed to donate the wooded area to the town and keep access to the trails.”

While some abutters said they support having more affordable housing projects in Grafton, they do not want this project in their neighborhood.

“We are not opposed to affordable housing projects. We are strongly opposed to this project,” said Pleasant Street residents Gail and Bob Sjoberg in a letter to the ZBA. “This neighborhood is zoned for single-family homes with lot sizes of 1 acre. Several projects have been completed off Pleasant Street with 40B cluster development, which includes smaller lots, and open space.”

“These projects were completed and although they add traffic to the street, we feel they were done within the character of the neighborhood. This project is not at all within the character of the neighborhood,” the letter states.

The Sjobergs cited the number of rental units on six acres; the traffic count; the egress for fire apparatus; and how close the development would be to buffer zones.

During the May 17 hearing, several abutters voiced their concerns about the possible impact on local wildlife. One resident said that bald eagles nest nearby.

According to the proposal’s development impact statement, “The project will not alter any wetland resource areas; only minor work will occur in the buffer zone.”

Traffic was another topic that drew plenty of discussion.

“I am terrified for the safety of the children,” said a Pleasant Street resident, citing the amount of traffic that uses the long and narrow roadway.

The ZBA voted to continue the public hearing to Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Grafton Public Library.

For more information on the project, visit here.

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GRAFTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A home in Grafton has been deemed “a total loss” after an SUV crashed into the back of the structure Wednesday afternoon.

Half of the home was torn down Wednesday night as crews remained on scene to secure what was left behind.

“It’s a sad day,” homeowner John McNamara said as his home of 15 years came down.

“[A] lot of people remember certain days like your wedding or your kids or whatever,” McNamara said. “Well, I’m going to remember this day when I’m getting forced out of my house and I got to start all over again.”

First responders were seen working earlier in the day at the home at the intersection of Millbury Street and Providence Road just after 4 p.m.

McNamara said he had just arrived home from work to greet his wife when the car hit their house.

He said he and his wife heard a loud bang “like a bomb went off.” McNamara said he then went to the side of the house and saw the car.

Firefighters had to cut one woman out of the Lexus SUV. Another woman, a child, and a dog were also inside the car at the time of the crash.

McNamara said he and his wife weren’t hurt. Officials said one of the women in the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

“Thankfully everyone was properly secured and seatbelts and airbags and everything did their job,” Grafton Fire Chief Eric Mathieu said.

Mathieu said the child was properly secured in a car seat.

McNamara and his wife were soon told they wouldn’t be able to live in their home anymore.

“One minute, everything is fine, and then how quick your life can turn around in a flash, you know, just because of a car accident,” McNamara said.

Still, McNamara said he realizes Wednesday’s events could have been worse.

Mathieu shared a similar sentiment.

“[T]his could have been very catastrophic,” he said. “But it turned out OK.”

The family wasn’t able to salvage anything from the back room of their house on Wednesday because the structure wasn’t safe.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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