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Behind the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council building in South Grafton is a long stretch of grass and trees that extends all the way down to the Blackstone River. Although it borders on a few backyards, it’s usually a quiet area, save for the sounds of nature. On July 30, it will be full of dancers, vendors, cooks, and neighbors for the 98th annual Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation Powwow.

The Nipmuc people have lived in what is now known as Central Massachusetts for thousands of years, as far west as Springfield, as far east as Natick, and as far south as Connecticut. Through the generations, from early wars with English colonists during the 1700s to legal discrimination in the 1800s and a new wave of activism in the 1970s, the region's first residents have worked hard to maintain their identity and traditions, with the yearly powwow serving as a celebration and a reminder.

'A homecoming'

For Love Richardson, powwow coordinator and a member of the Hassanamisco band, the powwow is everything from a vital cultural tradition to a family reunion, drawing Nipmuc tribal members from across the state and the continent.

“You may not see an elder all winter long, but they will make their way out at an annual powwow. That's why we call it a homecoming. They'll see another elder that hasn’t been home, and because of the pandemic, people didn't get to see each other,” Richardson said. “We have tribal members in their 30s who haven't been to this powwow since they were kids, and they want their grandchildren to be able to have what they had.”

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Richardson said this year, a cousin of hers who has not been home in several years will be coming to the powwow from California, and it is not uncommon for tribal members who no longer live in the area to travel hundreds of miles for the event.

“When we have tribal members spread across the continent, generally, they fly home, and it's an annual time where they get to see their elders, taste their traditional food, be able to hear songs for the woodland area, dance their styles, which are typically Eastern Woodland,” Richardson said. “Sometimes there's trade there, sometimes there's courtship, some people just come to get the medicine from the songs — to be able to sing, to dance, to represent those who have walked on before us.”

Feeding the spirit

One tribal member coming in from the West Coast will be chef Jason Vickers of Seattle, whose father Al was a proud member of the Nipmuc Nation as well as a skilled fisherman who spent time fishing off Cape Cod. Vickers’ cooking demonstration at the powwow will include traditional medicine drinks, locally grown vegetables, and fish caught by Nipmuc fishermen like his father.

This year’s theme is “Gathering of the Bands,” and members of other Nipmuc bands, as well as neighboring nations such as the Mashpee Wampanoag, will be in Grafton to represent their own traditions and futures.

“We have always been very inclusive of our other bands, and so if it's a Nipmuc powwow, we need to invite all the other bands to participate, be honored, and be recognized during grand entry,” Richardson said. “It's very important to show equity amongst the bands. That is the most important thing. There's a lot of tribes that don't show that, and so we want to make sure that the theme of the year was equity and inclusion.”

All are welcome

Richardson said she encourages area residents to come to the powwow, even if they have no Native heritage or relatives, in hopes of fostering relationships between neighbors and promoting the area’s original traditions.

“We want to show that we are still here, that we are holding on to our traditional ways with our witus, our food sovereignty, our traditional cooking, and our gatherings,” Richardson said.

According to Richardson, there is some important etiquette that first-time powwow participants should know before going. It would be inappropriate to touch anyone’s regalia, or traditional clothing, or to take photos of individuals without their permission. Otherwise, visitors can follow along with directions from the powwow’s master of ceremonies, and there are some dances in which non-Native people are invited to participate.

“Be able to come out and dance with us, catch that medicine. If you have something heavy on your heart, come dance. Ask questions. Just be as respectful as if someone were to come into your community and be your neighbor,” Richardson said.

'Walking with ancestors'

This year’s powwow will include a moment with particular significance to Richardson. Her father, Charles “Buster” Richardson, was a sub chief in the Hassanamisco band who was a reliable presence in the cook shack at powwows until he passed away in 2007.

“He would participate in many of our events and travel to all of the bands very frequently. He was an all-around chief with many talents who always had an open-door policy — any tribal member could come into his home and talk to him at any given time,” Richardson said.

At the July 30 powwow, there will be an awakening ceremony for a drum that belonged to Buster Richardson.

“We will have the chief carrying that drum out to the center of the circle, honoring that drum and honoring that former chief and coming together as one. His presence will be there, and it blesses the circle and all those listening to the drum as it is woken up,” Richardson said.

“I was raised around the powwow, and for me, the minute grand entry starts, it's a burst of energy and I feel like I'm walking with my ancestors. There's a sense of pride to be amongst my own community and feel that energy and renewal."

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation Powwow will take place at July 30 at the Nipmuc National Tribal Council, 25 Main St. in South Grafton. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and grand entry, where dancers enter the arena, will take place at noon. Admission is $5, and children 10 and younger can enter for free. More information: nipmucnation.org.

Correspondent

It wasn't long ago – just a few short years, in fact – when a game between perennial power Grafton High and a South High program that was struggling with numbers and to find victories would have been a matchup most Central Mass. football fans would skip.

Those days are long gone and it's likely that many who would usually be at a restaurant, movie theater or stapled to the couch will be at Grafton High at 6:30 p.m. Friday as the Gators host the Colonels in what has the buzz of an early-season game of the year.

Both teams enter the showdown with 2-0 records and with plenty of explosive players representing all three phases of the game.

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With due deference to the Colonels’ loss to city heavyweight Doherty last October, one could argue that Friday represents South’s biggest regular-season game since coach Bob LaRose began rebuilding his alma mater’s program three years ago.

“This is the kind of game we’ve worked hard to play in for three years,” LaRose said. “It’s a big game for us, but the fact that other people think this is a big game really says a lot about our program.”

There’s usually some compelling back stories and relationships when games pitting two opponents who rarely play each other are scheduled.

In this case, the matchup was locked in partly because of the friendship between LaRose and Grafton coach Chris McMahon and the fact that South was in need of a regular-season test to prepare for what it hopes is a return trip to the Massachusetts Division 4 state tournament.

“After what happened to us against Duxbury last year (a lopsided playoff loss), we knew we had to find some teams of that caliber to get on our schedule,” LaRose said. “Chris does a great job. They’re not afraid of anyone. They’ll play anyone and they can beat anyone. Grafton is big and physical, their offense line is always looking for work – very fast and aggressive. Plus, they have a wild atmosphere down there, so we’re in for a challenge.”

The Gators and Colonels have some similarities, the most obvious being a commitment to tough, physical play and game-breaking featured running backs.

By now, most have heard of South senior Angelo LaRose, who last year was the most dominant running back in the region. LaRose has plenty of help from the quickly rising pitch and catch combination of quarterback Ransford Adri and versatile skill players D’Andre McLeod and Anderson Amparo but when it’s time to convert a third down and keep the drive going, the smart money is on LaRose toting the rock.

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LaRose, who was a broken tackle from eclipsing 3,000 yards rushing last year, has leveraged his blend of power, speed and vision to amass 343 yards and four touchdowns thus far.

McMahon understands the importance of slowing LaRose but is also fully aware, South is not a one-player team.

“They tremendous size upfront, the wide receivers are excellent, and I am very impressed with the quarterback,” McMahon said. “We are going to have to play well on both sides of the ball and on special teams, limit the big plays. It's a major challenge.”

If LaRose is the first name that comes to mind when it comes to standout running backs, Grafton’s Tyson Thomas could be the next.

Thomas, a junior with explosive acceleration, shiftiness and a fearless approach to engaging much bigger defenders, tops Central Mass. with 429 rushing yards while averaging nearly nine yards per attempt.

Thomas was virtually unstoppable last weekend in the Gators’ win over Masconomet, rushing for a career-high 263 yards and two scores.

Thomas is more than a bit familiar to LaRose. Thomas played for the vaunted Worcester Cowboys American Youth Football program growing up, and was in the same backfield as Angelo LaRose, a fact that probably still has youth football coaches waking up in a cold sweat years later.

“Tyson is a serious problem,” Bob LaRose said. “He’s got all the tools, he’s got incredible field vision and ball security. He’s tough to corral.”

Grafton has the potential to offer a strong response to a defense tempted to stack the box to keep Thomas in check. The Gators have the ability to go to the air, with senior tight end Liam Donagher.

Donagher is a quality over quantity receiver. He’s caught eight passes from quarterback Casey Jordan and four of them were for touchdowns.

Like any game that is expected to be closely contested, special teams play could be a determining factor. South got two return touchdowns last week from McLeod.

Contact Tom Flanagan at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.

GRAFTON - The owner of an old textile mill in South Grafton has filed a federal lawsuit against the town, claiming town officials acted in bad faith by imposing impossible deadlines to fix safety and building violations, which forced the closing and delayed the reopening of the building at 6 Depot St.

In the lawsuit filed Nov. 2 in U.S. District Court, Deborah Lippman, owner and trustee of Blackstone Mill Depot Realty Trust, and Robert Heavey, building manager and beneficiary, are suing the town of Grafton, Building Inspector Robert S. Berger and Assistant Fire Chief Stephen L. Charest. The suit claims a violation of civil rights during the three-year struggle to reopen the dilapidated four-story building in South Grafton.

“The defendants operated with malice and bad faith with the intent to injure the plaintiffs by incorrectly interpreting and applying the state building code by closing 6 Depot St.,’’ according to the lawsuit filed by attorney James D. O’Brien Jr. of the Worcester firm Mountain, Dearborn, & Whiting LLP, representing Ms. Lippman and Mr. Heavey.

Mr. O’Brien could not be reached for comment. Grafton’s town attorney, Ginny Kremer, told The Grafton News the town has not yet been served so she couldn’t respond to the lawsuit. The documents did not specify a dollar amount the owners were seeking.

In providing background about the building, Ms. Kremer wrote that Mr. Berger and Chief Charest became aware of life and safety issues at the building after a fire in 2015. At the time the building was being used as a self-storage facility.

There were no serious injuries as a result of the fire, but it burned so hot and so fast it melted part of a firetruck. Officials say teenagers may have been hanging out in the unsecured building. A post-fire inspection showed the building had unsafe and missing fire escapes, missing or noncompliant emergency exit lighting, and plywood on the walls and hallways.

In December 2015, town officials discovered the roof of the mill had partly collapsed. When a demolition contractor requested a permit, the building inspector and other town agencies found the roof in the weave room had collapsed, leaving huge beams on the floor. In the sprinkler control room, inspectors found the sprinkler system was partly out of order, and asbestos used to insulate steam pipes was lying on the floor.

The inspection also revealed that bricks had fallen from the smokestack and punched holes in the roof. Fire escapes were deteriorated and not recertified. Emergency lights and exit signs were missing, and the exit doors were dead-bolted shut. In another section of the building, water from a roof drain was being caught in buckets on a deteriorated floor.

The town says the building owners refused to follow lawfully issued orders to take remedial action, and because of noncompliance, the town took the owners to Housing Court. After a lengthy legal battle, the owners brought the building into compliance in November 2017. It is now the home of Heavey Self-Storage.

The lawsuit claims the town was engaging in a “deliberate process’’ to deprive Blackstone of using the building by “keeping the building closed on the false premise that permits were required for what were essentially ordinary maintenance and repairs.’’

The lawsuit also alleges Mr. Heavey was “coerced’’ into paying the extra expense of hiring structural and electrical engineers to prepare plans and make electrical repairs that a plumber or electrician could have provided at a lower cost.

Blackstone claims it was targeted while other buildings in town have failed inspections. Blackstone was given 24 hours to complete ordinary repairs and maintenance and required to obtain unnecessary permits for those repairs at the 115,000-square-foot former textile mill.

The lawsuit alleges that a town official told Mr. Heavey the town was “never going to allow Depot Street to open’’ until Blackstone paid the South Grafton Water Co. money it owed for water.

“This was a direct threat made by … an official of the Town of Grafton and based upon complete and total misinformation,’’ the lawsuit states.

Blackstone argues in the lawsuit that South Grafton Water Co. has access to water because Blackstone deeded its water rights to the company for $1 on the condition that it supply water to the Depot Street property in perpetuity, the lawsuit states.

Ms. Kremer noted that South Grafton Water Co. is a separate legal entity from the town, so the allegation is “baseless.’’

Due to steps required by the town, Blackstone claims it spent more than $400,000 in expert fees and other expenses that were unnecessary to reopen the building.

The lawsuit accuses the town as improperly applying the building code and “perceived ongoing harassment’’ by Mr. Berger.

In March 2016, Blackstone asked the town if it could inspect the file for 6 Depot St. The lawsuit alleges critical information was intentionally removed.

Beginning in March 2016, Blackstone, through its attorney, made several requests under the Freedom of Information Act requesting decisions, inspection reports, notices of violations and other information for other commercial and industrial property in town that had violations similar to those at the Depot Street property.

Eventually, Blackstone received information that approximately 68 buildings had failed inspections from 2011 to 2016, including schools, universities, churches, day care centers, restaurants, town-owned buildings, and the Grafton Public Library, according to the lawsuit. But the information provided did not explain what regulatory actions were taken.

By Alexandra Molnar, Contributing Writer

Grafton – Living in 2015, it can be hard to imagine even the most commonplace aspects of life in the centuries that preceded ours.

In Grafton, one-room schoolhouses had existed since 1731, but by the 1840s, there were 11 districts scattered throughout the town. Schools did not have separate classes divided by age because neither the population nor funding to pay teachers necessitated it. In addition, the schools did not have a specific course of study. Each district maintained its own building, existing on land that was often donated by town citizens. In 1873, common school teachers were paid $8.70 per week while the principal of the high school earned $37.50 each week.

The School Committee set its sights on appropriating proper funds to the schools because they strongly believed in the value of educating their youth. An 1866-1867 school report reads, “Cost what it may, therefore, it is cheaper to educate the people than to allow them to grow up in ignorance; to say nothing of the priceless advantages of education in other respects it is better economy to make generous appropriations to the schools.”

Despite the different methods of funding and the differing coursework, the schools served the same purpose that our education system serves today: the effective function of society depends on appropriating proper funds to educate people. With the 1873 state law requiring students aged 7 to 15 to attend school for one term per year, school attendance increased tremendously. In 1873, before the law was instated, the Grafton School Committee estimated that less than seven-eighths of the children aged 5 to 15 actually attended schools.

Factories, which employed a large quantity of children as the mills were the main source of employment in Grafton starting in the 1800s, also had to comply with the state law. So by 1893, school attendance increased by 91 percent.

Despite progress made by the state to compel the education of youth, the schoolhouses were antiquated. Many schoolhouses in Grafton had poor ventilation and only basic sanitary facilities. Attempts were made in the last three decades of the 19th century to improve ventilation, install flush toilets and develop a curriculum.

The new curriculum included the following required classes at the primary and grammar schools: penmanship, drawing, written arithmetic, elements of geography, English composition and music. Though memorization was the primary method of learning, the value of internalizing information and articulating learned concepts seemed to surface among educational leaders in the late 19th century.

An 1888 School Committee report shows evidence of the belief that learning how to articulate concepts was well-regarded: “[There is] more mental activity on the part of the pupils. It is deemed of less moment to learn the printed words of the book than to grasp the subject itself, and to paint in the pupils own words the thoughts he has acquired about it.”

Students had to be able to prove knowledge of the following in order to gain admission into high school: “knowledge of written arithmetic as far as square root; a general knowledge of the map lessons in geography; an ability to parse in common prose or easy poetry, with the application of the rules of grammar; and an ability to spell the ordinary words found in the ‘Progressive Speller.’”

The Grafton High School was originally established in 1838 in the basement of the Congregational Church and then moved into its own building which was erected in 1850. The school existed in its original building until 1952, when a new school was built.

In addition to academic courses, as a student you could also enjoy a commercial course (learning about business transactions for careers in accounting, as a secretary, etc.), manual training (learning how to use tools in drafting, metal and woodwork, and mechanics), and household arts (learning how to maintain a home with activities such as cooking, sewing, etc.). These classes were introduced between 1911 and 1918.

In 1901, high school enrollment numbered 86 students out of a total town population of 4,869 people. Due to the lack of work opportunities for children aged 14-16 as a result of the Great Depression, by 1938 high school enrollment increased to 323 students. In 1932, the school budget was the largest single item in the town’s costs. The budget experienced a major cut, by $5,000, when Grafton began to feel the effects of the Depression.

Now the Grafton public school system is comprised of four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, newly opened in 2012. South Grafton Elementary, built in 1976, and North Grafton Elementary, built in 1955, offer pre-K through first grade while Millbury Street Elementary, built in 2002, and North Street Elementary, built in 1969, offer grades two through six. The middle school, built in 1963, has grades seven and eight and the high school has grades nine through twelve.

By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer

Grafton – Zachary Kerzee, 25, is the pastor of Simple Church, an offspring of the former United Methodist Church in Grafton which closed its doors two years ago, allocating funds from the building sale to the “planting” of a new church. Simple Church, a farm-to-table dinner church located at the church parsonage next to the Elvidge farm property at 82 Potter Hill Road, is committed to simplicity, community and service. And, while affiliated with the Methodist Church, Simple Church is open to all, including those who have felt marginalized by traditional religions, with the emphasis on full welcome into the spirit community of Simple Church.

Kerzee, the son of a Methodist minister, grew up in Texas where he studied religion and Greek at McMurry University before moving to New England to attend Harvard Divinity School. He received his Masters of Divinity in May and moved to Grafton in July to start Simple Church. Joining him was his wife, Kendra, a Spanish teacher in Acton, their retired sled dog, Skunk, and eight laying hens.

Simple Church meets at Kerzee’s home. It is a church without walls. On purpose.

“So many churches have trouble even keeping the heat turned on – and I can’t think of a single church that hasn’t had to do a capital campaign just to maintain their church building,” Kerzee said. “So I decided that Simple Church was going to run as fast as we could in the other direction. When I looked at the example and ministry of Jesus, I didn’t see him building large, creaky church buildings. Instead, he walked from place to place and met people where they were. By not having a building we free ourselves to focus on relationships and live unencumbered lives devoted to service and connection.”

At Simple Church, visitors are asked to bring their faith, their doubts and an appetite for something bigger than themselves. Worship includes preparing food together within a liturgical context full of prayers, a candle-lighting ceremony, and a blessing for the food followed by a meal and a small sermon meant to stir discussion. Attendees sing folk songs that can be sung without song books or print-outs.

“We try and make zero waste – which means we don’t have printed bulletins and we use glassware and cloth napkins. All food scraps are composted. We sing simple songs – often African American spirituals or songs that I write myself,” shared Kerzee.

Kerzee sees Simple Church as an opportunity to live a life committed to simplicity following the patient example of Jesus. No steeple and no pews. Just a table and a passion to connect to people.

Simple Church began meeting in September and has recently outgrown its space at Kerzee’s home. In order to accommodate the growing numbers, the church has begun meeting in the fellowship hall of the Congregational Church, 30 Grafton Common. Additionally, a second night of dinner worship has been added. Thursday night dinner worship will meet at 7 p.m. and the Friday night group at 5 p.m. to accommodate families with small children.

Starting next month Simple Church will be incorporating a monthly service project, participating in an all-ages mission.

Simple Church is made up of folks of all ages, all backgrounds and all orientations. Interested in coming for a visit? They’ll set a place for you.

For more information on Simple Church, go to www.simpleumc.com or facebook.com/simpleumc on Facebook.

For a description of a typical worship service, visit http://www.simpleumc.com/frequently-asked-questions.html.

Central Massachusetts residents looking to beat the heat by running through a sprinkler may have to visit friends, as outdoor water bans make their way through the region.

More than 20 Central Massachusetts towns have implemented restrictions on non-essential outdoor water usage as the region has been determined to be in critical drought status.

The restrictions can range in some places, with a total ban on outdoor usage entirely in some, while others only allow watering between certain hours or on certain days.

The state Department of Environmental Protection published a list of towns throughout the commonwealth with water restrictions. A list of the towns in the Central Massachusetts region:

Ashburnham

Residents prohibited from all non-essential outdoor water usage.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water Sundays, Wednesday and Fridays before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Properties with odd numbered street addresses are able to use outdoor water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, during the same timeframe. No one is able to use outdoor water on Mondays.

Non-essential outdoor water use is prohibited for all residents on all days, aside from watering of a vegetable garden.

Residents are prohibited from all non-essential outdoor water usage. but are also asked to minimize overall water usage.

Residents are prohibited from using non-essential outdoor water between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Residents are prohibited from using non-essential outdoor water between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water on even numbered calendar days, while odd numbered street addresses are able to on odd numbered calendar days. Residents can only use non-essential outdoor water between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Hopedale

Outdoor water usage is restricted to two days per week based on house number. Odd numbered houses are allowed to water Tuesdays and Thursdays, while even numbered are allowed Wednesdays and Fridays. No outdoor water usage is allowed Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays or any day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. However, residents may water vegetable gardens by use of a handheld nozzle.

The town of Leicester has two water districts including the Leicester Water Supply District and Hillcrest Water District. Both districts have a ban for all non-essential water use.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 1, Leominster residents will have to follow an odd/even outdoor watering restriction, with odd number addresses being allowed to use water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and even numbered houses on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. No watering outdoors can occur on Mondays or between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Non-essential outdoor water use prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Odd-numbered street addresses may use water outdoors Sundays and Thursdays between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.; even-numbered addresses may do so on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

No use of outside irrigation systems are allowed during the day. They are only allowed to be used one day per week between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water Wednesdays and Saturdays only, while odd numbered addresses are allowed Thursdays and Sundays only. Watering hours for all residents are restricted to before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. There is no nonessential outdoor use of water Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Non-essential outdoor water use prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water even numbered calendar days, while odd numbered addresses are allowed on odd numbered calendar days. Watering hours for all residents are restricted to before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

The town of Sutton has three water districts including Manchaug, Wilkinsonville and Whitinsville. Manchaug, the smallest of the trio, currently has no outdoor water ban in place, whereas Whitinsville, the largest, has a total ban on non-essential outdoor watering for all days and times.

Wilkinsonville currently has a year-round outdoor watering ban, with a split between odd numbered addresses and even numbered addresses. Odd numbered addresses are allowed to water on odd numbered calendar days, while even numbered addresses are allowed on even numbered calendar days. Residents are only allowed to water before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

Residents are only able to use non-essential outdoor water between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the week.

Non-essential outdoor water use is allowed only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Watering flowers, gardens and shrubs by hand is allowed.

Non-essential outdoor water use prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Non-essential outdoor water use prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The town of Warren has two water districts: Warren Water District and West warren Water District. Both have prohibited non-essential outdoor water use between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water on even numbered calendar days, while odd numbered street addresses are able to on odd numbered calendar days. Residents can only use non-essential outdoor water before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

Properties with even numbered street addresses are allowed to use outdoor water on even numbered calendar days, while odd numbered street addresses are able to on odd numbered calendar days. Residents are prohibited from non-essential outdoor water usage between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Non-essential outdoor water use prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.