On behalf of the Paxton Garden Club, we would like to thank everyone who made our monthly summer Paxton Farmers Markets such a huge success! PMAGC is eternally grateful to our vendors, the community, our volunteers, the Paxton Council on Aging, the Paxton Board of Health and the Paxton Fire Department. 

We would also like to thank our market sponsors Conte Insurance and Worcester County Memorial Park, without whose support the markets would not have been possible. We look forward to hosting another successful season in 2027.

Robin Tasca & the Paxton Garden Club

October celebrates White Cane Day

October is known for being the month of Halloween, pumpkin carving, and bobbing for apples. But would you like to know what is really spooky? Not knowing that White Cane Safety Day is celebrated every October 15, a date that was proclaimed to honor the significance of the white cane by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A white cane is a mobility tool that provides individuals with low vision, vision impairment, and total blindness with safety and independence. For example, the cane allows the user to preview their walking path, detecting bumps, potholes, or dropoffs before the individual’s foot detects these dangers. Additionally, the white cane allows community members to be aware of their fellow neighbor’s needs when in public spaces. A driver will know a pedestrian may need more time at a crosswalk when they are holding a cane, or a fellow shopper will realize someone may need extra room to navigate a crowded aisle of the grocery store.

So, this October, while you are keeping an eye out for ghosts, goblins, and your favorite candy, be sure to keep an eye out for the white cane, too. Recognizing what it represents is a simple step toward creating safer, more accessible communities where people who are blind or visually impaired can move and travel with greater independence.

Michela Meaney
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Oxford