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MA

Historic Day

Friday June 26th was a historic day for the United States and for the Bissell family. Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. An easy call for most, but fun to watch the Republican presidential nominees trying to figure out how to best respond to this ruling. It is not about equality, it’s about votes for them. Enough politics.

Today also marks the last official day of school for the Bissell boys. Because all 3 boys have special needs, in Massachusetts they receive their services and therapies through the public school system until their 22nd birthday. On their 22nd birthday, they move from the school system into adult services; a huge and emotional transition.

We’ve spent several months visiting and researching adult programs for people with developmental disabilities. All three boys have very different needs, so no single program will work for all. We’ve finally made the best decisions we can for all three boys. They will take the month of July off and start this new chapter of their lives on August 3rd.

The hardest part of this transition is saying goodbye to all of the wonderful people in the Grafton Public School system. Hard partly because there are way too many people to thank! The boys have been in the school system for 19 years! Anyone with a child with special needs knows how many people are involved in caring for their children while in school; everyone from the teachers, to the classroom aides, to the therapists. But this is only part of the picture. The over-used saying “it takes a village” is definitely true for special needs kids. It’s not just the direct care workers that are needed to help a child with special needs be successful at school, it’s also the administration from the superintendent to the school committee to the office staff, van drivers and school nurses, custodians and cafeteria workers and even the regular education students who make inclusion work. Multiply all of this by 3 and you begin to see why it would be impossible to thank each individual who made the boys’ school years successful.

The boys have also spent all of these years with many of the same students. The students as well as their parents have become a close-knit community and dear friends. These parents are also working through this difficult transition and trying to find the best placement for their adult children. Sadly most of the young adults will be scattered among the many adult programs around Central Massachusetts. We will miss that comradery, but hope to keep in touch with as many of these amazing parents and kids as possible.

Anyone who is reading this and had anything to do with Eric, Aaron or Anthony’s school years, THANK YOU!

Here are a few photos from the twins’ last day of school:

Bon Voyage party for the twins.
Bon Voyage party for the twins.
Aaron receiving his diploma
Aaron receiving his diploma from Special Education Administrator Mr. Lundwall
Eric receiving his certificate
Eric receiving his certificate from Special Education Administrator Mr. Lundwall
School to Work students and staff
School-to-Work program students and staff
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Eric’s Team Hoyt Running Chair

eric_jogger

Eric is so comfortable and happy in his new Hoyt Running Chair! Eric would not have his new running chair without the help of family, friends and community. We would like to take a moment to thank all those who helped make this possible.

Special thanks to:

Thanks to all those who made donations via Ainsely’s Angels:

  • ANONYMOUS X3
  • *Mystery* Super Fan
  • The Maguire Doggies
  • Brooklyn Vance
  • Wendy, Marika & Tanner
  • St. Mary’s Parish
  • Joanie Edson and family
  • Nancy, Kyle & Meghan Treem
  • Edgren-Fortin Family
  • Susan Novak
  • Sandra Arix Kazanjian
  • Gilgallons
  • Maureen Bonica
  • The Ward Family
  • Michelle, Jimmy & Ryan
  • Jim Murphy
  • Rita Haga
  • Cousin Kari
  • Dawna Price
  • Pam and Jack Kates
  • Lori, Rick, Rider and Macie Muhr
  • Houle family
  • The Romaniec Family
  • Pat Paradis
  • Jaye Zawada
  • Seidel/Peters Family
  • The Langevin Family
  • Susan Rohl
  • Robert Ciavardone
  • Debbie and Stephen Maguire
  • The Dagle Family
  • Marianne and Jen
  • The Griffin Family
  • Paula Montuori
  • Bob and Donna Vollono
  • Larry and Pat Folino
  • Marianne Rososky
  • Pat & Faye Nolan
  • Dick and Joyce LaChappelle
  • Louis Shropshire
  • Gary & Phyllis
  • The Colluras
  • The Coz Family
  • Joan Winterkorn
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TEAM HOYT Running Chair for Eric!

Eric Bissell

Eric is a very personable young man with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He is unable to walk and is wheelchair dependent. One of Eric’s favorite things to do is to go for walks and runs with his mom and dad. Most people around our small town of Grafton Massachusetts know the familiar site of the Bissells pushing Eric around town. Over the years, Eric has had several special needs joggers, which he has either worn out or out-grown. He has again out-grown his current jogger and we have been looking for options for adult special needs joggers. At this point, Eric is 20 years old, 130 lbs and hopefully finished growing! The best solution for Eric would be a Team Hoyt running chair. But these chairs are custom made and very expensive. For this reason, we have partnered with a non-profit group called “Ainsley’s Angels” to help us organize a fundraiser for Eric. With the help of family, friends and community we hope to get a custom Hoyt chair for Eric. Any amount you can give would be very much appreciated and tax deductible. Thank you!

Click Here to Donate

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25th Annual Grafton Gazebo 5 Mile Race

25th Annual Grafton Gazebo 5 Mile Race – Grafton, MA, May 3, 2014

Mixed 5 Mile Run RR

1 120 Tim Forrest M17 Grafton, MA 29:50.86
2 15 James Callaghan M44 Grafton, MA 30:33.34
3 136 James Kirk M32 Worcester, MA 31:18.86
4 115 Benjamin Sarkis M18 N.Grafton, MA 31:49.40
5 100 Chaz Davis M20 Grafton, MA 32:31.44
6 54 Bryan Quitadamo M21 Auburn, MA 32:31.68
7 116 Rourk Marlow M18 Malone, NY 32:31.92
8 170 Rob Auger M31 Worcester, MA 32:35.41
9 177 Chris Tatsis M18 Grafton, MA 33:08.05
10 95 Scott Kelley M45 N. Grafton, MA 34:57.17
11 97 Aidan Gilmore M12 Grafton, MA 35:01.01
12 96 Eric Gilmore M42 Grafton, MA 35:42.08
13 172 Patrick Fitzgerald M21 Charlton, MA 35:45.99
14 114 Peter Sabotka M41 Oxford, MA 36:09.72
15 53 Jared Palanzi M38 North Grafton, MA 36:17.05
16 20 Edward Deveney M50 North Grafton, MA 36:22.57
17 122 Brendan Rocco M14 N. Grafton, MA 36:34.62
18 150 Lester Fofgit M57 Worcester, MA 36:38.40
19 88 Lori Muhr W48 Grafton Gazebo Racer 36:41.62
20 152 Shaun McAvey M59 N.Grafton, MA 36:51.85
21 91 James Pilczak M18 Grafton, MA 37:32.26
22 89 Rider Muhr M13 Grafton, MA 37:36.63
23 106 James Chabot M51 Webster, MA 37:38.50
24 27 A.J. Fedor M49 Grafton, MA 37:39.05
25 137 Alan Rotatori M41 N.Grafton, MA 37:54.59
26 8 Christopher Beyer M36 Millbury, MA 38:42.32
27 132 Mark Vessella M41 N.Grafton, MA 38:52.89
28 121 Matt Deely M13 N.Grafton, MA 39:11.90
29 148 John Kuerten M54 ma 39:28.49
30 35 Sameer Kamath M13 N. Grafton, Ma 39:33.26
31 69 Eric Wierenga M31 Grafton, MA 39:47.71
32 2 Nico Allemann M12 North Grafton, MA 39:48.87
33 112 Kevin Gill M36 N.Grafton, MA 39:49.37
34 167 Mark Tsombakos M48 Grafton, MA 40:10.68
35 119 Emily Peacock W17 Grafton, MA 40:18.87
36 160 Margaret Olsopn W29 Worcester, MA 40:24.13
37 67 Jenna White W30 Rockville Centre, NY 40:28.78
38 58 Mark Riolo M42 Grafton, MA 40:57.28
39 169 Travis Coleman M43 S.Grafton, MA 41:01.80
40 12 Jody Brennan W51 S. Grafton, Ma 41:12.61
41 50 Stephen McDonough M66 Grafton, MA 41:16.83
42 108 Tom St. Jean M49 N.Grafton, MA 41:18.81
43 51 Mathew Often M45 Grafton, MA 41:29.75
44 92 Daniel Roche M14 Grafton, MA 41:30.45
45 82 Derek Iram M27 Whitinsville, MA 41:42.37
46 109 Andrea St. Jean W12 N.Grafton, MA 41:48.61
47 125 Tracy Howell W25 Sutton, MA 41:53.09
48 11 Oliver Bowen M11 Grafton, MA 42:05.95
49 18 Kristen Corbett W41 North Grafton, MA 42:09.50
50 66 David Wagner M47 South Grafton, MA 42:10.20
51 5 Alan Baker M38 N Grafton, MA 42:13.86
52 75 Jack Belifore M10 Grafton, MA 42:17.52
53 168 Laurie Tenney W45 Grafton, MA 42:19.43
54 76 Lori Belifore W44 Grafton, MA 42:23.70
55 33 Matthew Hallett M13 N. Grafton, Ma 42:33.33
56 55 Rob Reinhardt M24 Grafton, MA 42:34.02
57 68 Alicia Wierenga W32 Grafton, MA 42:39.25
58 154 Jim Coughlin M52 N.Grafton, MA 42:41.37
59 158 Erin Chiaputti W28 Manchester, CT 42:51.84
60 156 Lori Thompson W44 Tolland, CT 42:52.24
61 157 Mayy Yoder M39 Manchester, CT 42:52.52
62 79 Susan Burton W41 N. Grafton, MA 43:02.95
63 155 Ray Bell M18 N.Grafton, MA 43:20.91
64 1 Markus Allemann M46 North Grafton, MA 43:21.69
65 117 Lawrence Babb M50 N.Grafton, MA 43:28.09
66 141 Kelly Williamson W37 Sterling, MA 43:28.56
67 52 Carl Palanzi M66 Fall River, MA 43:44.30
68 25 Joann Duncan W49 N. Grafton, Ma 44:02.46
69 128 Chris Marino M44 Grafton, MA 44:06.63
70 101 Rob Giese M48 Grafton, MA 44:09.19
71 124 Will Evans M11 Grafton, MA 44:15.63
72 147 Jake McCue M12 S.Grafton, MA 44:17.08
73 171 Kimberly White W43 Sutton, MA 44:31.04
74 130 Robert Pruyn M22 Rockville Center, NY 44:32.39
75 129 Stephanie Reilly W22 N.Grafton, MA 44:32.85
76 28 Tracy Flynn W54 Shrewsbury, MA 44:38.20
77 98 Souleymane Gaye M13 Grafton, MA 44:55.69
78 179 Frederico Nicolau M43 Grafton, MA 44:56.61
79 162 Jessica Melo W36 Grafton, MA 44:58.93
80 16 Helen Collins W40 Grafton, MA 44:59.64
81 94 Kevin Roche M12 MA, MA 45:00.62
82 145 Todd O’Brien M44 Grafton, MA 45:13.34
83 17 Bob Connolly M64 Millis, MA 45:20.13
84 34 Calleigh Herren W13 Grafton, MA 45:28.56
85 38 Brian Kubta M31 Grafton, Ma 45:52.54
86 118 Keiko Tanaka W59 Grafton, MA 45:53.99
87 49 Melissa McDonald W49 Rutland, MA 46:11.64
88 83 Jack Padgett M11 Grafton, MA 46:12.69
89 84 Tracy Padgett M46 Grafton, MA 46:13.15
90 163 Mark Alimo M47 Grafton, MA 46:25.26
91 80 Amy Gatto W46 Sutton, MA 46:34.30
92 22 Cheryl Dujnic-Bjork W56 Grafton, Ma 47:01.66
93 4 Sonal Ambwani W33 Westborough, MA 47:18.34
94 47 Ruth Mazzeo W45 Grafton, MA 47:29.04
95 72 Nick Zieja M33 North Grafton, MA 47:51.25
96 21 Rebecca Diemand W25 Whitinsville, MA 47:57.81
97 3 Selena Allemann W12 North Grafton, MA 48:29.94
98 46 Ramnik Mayor M42 Grafton, MA 48:39.25
99 70 Darlene Wilhide W49 Grafton, MA 48:49.35
100 151 Monica Luchini W62 Millbury, MA 48:57.62
101 42 Bob Lubenow M62 Grafton, MA 49:04.46
102 40 Chris LaBarre M25 Whitinsville, MA 49:19.58
103 26 Ryan Euloth M27 Whitinsville, MA 49:20.07
104 161 Patrick Kelly M40 Grafton, MA 49:32.03
105 90 Lisa Anderson W49 Grafton, MA 49:36.12
106 23 Jessica Dujnic-Bjork W36 S. Grafton, Ma 49:37.54
107 87 Crystal Mayo W40 Grafton Gazebo Racer 49:54.53
108 57 Shelby Richards W17 North Grafton, MA 50:05.52
109 182 Susana. Bonorino W47 Shrewsbury, MA 50:36.96
110 181 Henrique. Bonorino M51 Shrewsbury, MA 50:37.56
111 93 John Roche M57 Grafton, MA 50:49.14
112 60 Ken Simonds M52 Northbridge, MA 50:55.32
113 142 Jack Lasoskie M12 N.Grafton, MA 51:05.40
114 13 Mary Brosnan-Quilliam W52 Grafton, MA 51:12.96
115 111 Cameron Cadman M12 Grafton, MA 51:16.70
116 48 Christina McCarthy W33 Grafton, MA 51:22.15
117 178 Diane Tonelli W52 N.Grafton, MA 51:29.08
118 81 Sydney Grass W11 Grafton, MA 51:32.11
119 138 Kennedy Davis W12 Grafton, MA 51:32.38
120 85 Eric Rocco M46 North Grafton, MA 51:37.72
121 110 Anne Legge W42 Grafton, MA 51:38.28
122 99 Keith Guyer M50 N. Grafton4ma 51:51.98
123 153 Stu Burdsall M50 Grafton, MA 51:52.37
124 45 Isha Mayor W13 Grafton, MA 52:12.90
125 165 Kathleen Vigeant W21 Sutton, MA 52:28.93
126 56 Kristen Richards W49 North Grafton, MA 52:31.81
127 166 Jacqueline Vigeant W54 Sutton, MA 52:34.57
128 24 Jamie Duncan W11 N. Grafton, Ma 52:43.78
129 104 Bianica Power W36 Grafton, MA 52:51.69
130 6 Anne Baskowski W53 Grafton, Ma 53:23.46
131 78 Cynthia Bissell W56 Grafton, MA 53:28.25
132 174 Shaunak Sharma M11 S.Grafton, MA 53:51.06
133 86 Scott Wicks M40 Marlboro, MA 54:14.57
134 143 Ana Lasoska W49 N.Grafton, MA 54:15.73
135 123 Christine Toman W46 S.Grafton, MA 54:20.94
136 36 Anne Kubota W27 Grafton, Ma 54:45.61
137 44 Aryan Mayor M10 Grafton, MA 54:54.80
138 134 Tyler Prout M11 Grafton, MA 55:01.52
139 180 Isabel Vendramini W44 Grafton, MA 55:47.61
140 31 Raphaela Guaitolini W27 Grafton, MA 55:55.16
141 140 Paulo Guaitdin M28 Grafton, MA 55:55.50
142 126 Lauren Welch W10 N.Grafton, MA 56:11.60
143 127 Kent Welch M45 N.Grafton, MA 56:12.06
144 37 Morio Kubota M66 Grafton, Ma 56:14.92
145 61 Alexander Tautkas M70 South Grafton, MA 56:34.22
146 173 Patricia Fitzgerald W52 Charlton, MA 56:38.65
147 183 Marjorie McCurley W50 Grafton, MA 57:55.52
148 65 Bonnie Wagner W44 South Grafton, MA 58:08.29
149 63 Beth Tucker W45 Grafton, MA 58:08.68
150 107 Alex DiRienzo M10 Grafton, MA 59:03.18
151 32 Caroline Hallett W11 N. Grafton, Ma 59:03.46
152 135 Sheryl Ducols W43 Linwood, MA 1:00:54.52
153 133 Patricia Myotte W50 N. Oxford, MA 1:00:55.11
154 149 Kim Drapkin W46 Grafton, MA 1:01:11.53
155 113 Andrew Merrill M11 Grafton, MA 1:01:20.20
156 77 Aaron Bissell M20 Grafton, MA 1:01:35.78
157 131 Diana Quecano W42 Grafton, MA 1:01:54.16
158 73 Tania Zieja W32 North Grafton, MA 1:03:13.38
159 7 Holly Begin W15 South Grafton, MA 1:03:55.94
160 175 Shivaan Sharma M8 S. Grafton, MA 1:04:08.47
161 176 Sujata Sharma W42 S.Grafton, MA 1:04:22.01
162 59 Gabriela Sanchez W24 Grafton, MA 1:04:45.22
163 64 Graciela Vargas-Baker W35 N Grafton, MA 1:05:00.57
164 102 Tameileg Anderson M7 Grafton, MA 1:07:46.54
165 103 Eric Anderson M38 Grafton, MA 1:07:46.91
166 164 Stephanie Anderson W40 Grafton, MA 1:12:21.00

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