Plants, History Blossom Saturday on Common

An array of events is scheduled, including the annual town-wide yard sale.

The Common will be the place to be Saturday, with plant sales, historic tours, story times, yard sales and information from the Grafton Land Trust. The Grafton Garden Club’s annual plant sale and raffle will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m as part of Grafton Celebrates Agriculture Day. In its 73rd year, the plant sale and raffle has become a Grafton tradition, with proceeds supporting scholarships and grants for Grafton residents.  The Garden Club has assembled a wide variety of annuals, hanging baskets, herbs and vegetables, as well as perennials to keep gardens in bloom from April through October. Experienced Garden Club gardeners are happy to answer your questions. Recipes to use the bounty of backyard harvests and tips for growing plants …

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'You Don't Know How Many Lives You Touch'

Sandra Brawn returns to Grafton Elementary School for a visit and reception.

Sandra Brawn made a return visit to Grafton Elementary School yesterday, where his colleagues honored her with a reception, gifts and heartfelt wishes for her continued recovery. Brawn was injured March 13 when she jumped about 12 feet from a second floor window to escape her burning home at 13 Oak St. “I’m getting better every day,’’ an emotional Brawn said at the reception. “But I still have a long way to go.’’ She hopes the doctor will give her the OK next week to work part-time starting in June, with an eye toward a full-time return in September. She said she is eager to return to school, but also wants to pace herself to ensure that her recovery continues at a steady rate. She thanked the community, at the school and beyond, for the …

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Exhibit Showcases South Grafton Mills

The exhibit opens Saturday.

The Grafton Historical Society announces the opening of an extensive exhibit on the great textile mills of South Grafton. The free exhibit opens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the society museum at 1 Grafton Common. “The Fisherville, Farnumsville, and Saundersville textile mills are central to the history and character of our town and to the industrial heritage of the Blackstone River Valley,” said Linda Casey, Grafton Historical Society president, in a prepared statement. “With this exhibit, we are preserving their very important legacy and giving our mills the place of honor which they deserve.” The mill exhibit is the culmination of a project two years in the making. The central feature will be highly-detailed scale models of each of the …

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Obama's Uncle Gets License Back

Onyango Obama works at Five Star Liquors in Grafton.

The president’s uncle, who works in Grafton and is in the country illegally, has received a new driver's license Onyango Obama, 67, went to the Worcester branch of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Tuesday and got a new license, according to Registry spokesperson Sara Lavoie. Framingham Police arrested Obama on charges of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in August 2011. Obama agreed to the facts of the case in March, meaning he admitted police had enough evidence to convict him. The case was continued without a finding for a year, but the judge ordered Obama give up his license for 45 days. Obama applied for and received a hardship driver's license. That license allowed him to drive during certain …

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Sobriety Checkpoint This Weekend

State Police will be out in Worcester County.

State Police will implement sobriety checkpoints Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20 in Worcester County, Colonel Marian J. McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, has announced. The goal of the program is to educate motorists and increase their awareness of the importance of detecting and removing drivers who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, she said. The checkpoints will be operated during varied hours and the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, she said. Safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety, she said.

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 17

See which town official was a write-in vote for the school board.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. See who won in the town election this week. Padgett was Re-elected Selectman. He said it was a hard race this year, but he thanked his supporters. 2. The Grafton police chief blogged this week about How to Save Your Life in a Crash. This weekend, police will be doing their Click it or Ticket campaign in the area. It just takes a second to put on your seat belt in the car and the chief says it could save your life. 3. In most elections, someone is always writing in names like Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck. But this year, one voter thought the assessor in town doesn't …

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Trash Truck Rolls Down Embankment on Mass Pike

Traffic delayed for westbound travelers.

  At about 1 p.m., a waste management truck rolled down an embankment on the MassPike westbound near mile marker 101 in Grafton, just west of the Westborough Service Plaza. Initial reports indicated that a car may have been involved in the crash. Grafton and Westborough fire departments and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) were called to the scene. Westborough firefighters were released from the incident at about 1:30 p.m. According to a statement from the MSP, no injuries are reported though emergency medical service personnel are at the crash site. “A diesel tank has been compromised and is leaking fuel. A hazmat team is en route to assess the situation,” reads the statement.    

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Assessor on School Board? 1 Voter Thought So

Jennifer O'Neil was one of nearly 30 candidates written in at yesterday's vote.

Apparently someone doesn’t think Town Assessor Jennifer O’Neil has enough on her plate in her full-time job. She also got a write-in vote for School Committee. Informed of the write-in this morning, O’Neil said she was flattered, but thought the vote might be a bit misguided. “I don’t even have a child in the school system, so I don’t keep up with the school business,’’ she said, chuckling. “So I wouldn’t be a good School Committee candidate.’’ Hers wasn’t the only name written in by voters at yesterday’s election. Nearly 30 names got at least one write-in vote. Some are known on the national stage, others are very recognizable in town. But all share one common denominator: They fell far short of the winning totals. Others who received …

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