AUGUST 2024

 William Russell is a rising senior at Westwood High School. He most recently starred in the Westwood Stage production of Anything Goes. This summer, for the second consecutive year, William was invited to participate in the 2024 Songbook Academy Showcase, hosted in Indiana.

What made you originally fall in love with singing and acting?
It’s hard to pick one specific thing that made me fall in love with singing, dancing, and acting. My parents raised me on old, golden-age, musical-movies like Singing in the Rain and Easter Parade. From a very young age, I idolized performers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly which led me to fill my early years with song and dance as a casual hobby. Then, I participated in my first musical, a fifth grade production of Willy Wonka at Sheehan Elementary, and started to consider performing as a career. I’ve always loved the world that performing takes me to and the type of expression it allows. I feel like it helps me connect with people better than any conversation ever could.

 
What’s been your favorite role to date?
I’m not sure I can pick just one role as they’re all special to me in one way or another, but if I had to choose, I’d probably say either Billy Crocker in Anything Goes or Davey Jacobs in Newsies. Both roles provided a well-rounded theatrical experience for me, as they presented acting, singing, and dancing opportunities. I value all the aspects of performing so I really relish the chance to present all three in a show. Also, I just found both the shows that the roles come from, Anything Goes and Newsies, to be joyful experiences with wonderful castmates.
 
Tell me about the process to participate in the Songbook Academy summer intensive? What did it take to earn a spot?
 
I found out about the Songbook Academy from my voice teacher, Eva Kendrick, in the fall of 2022. I’ve always loved the music of the Great American Songbook era, so the opportunity to be immersed in that music with people who also love it and are committed to preserving and passing it down was exciting to me. The program requires a video audition in which you sing a few songs from the era and send it in. It is evaluated and scored by judges and you are sent feedback on your performance. They select the top 40 applicants to attend the intensive at the gorgeous Palladium Theatre in Carmel, Indiana, and work with industry professionals on really connecting with and telling a compelling and engaging story through vocal performance. Last year I was fortunate enough to work with wonderful people like Ali Stroker, Nasia Thomas, and of course the founder of the academy, Michael Feinstein. Broadening my repertoire and opening new avenues of performance are just two of the many benefits I enjoyed from last year’s intensive and I hope to get just as much out of this year’s.
 
You also participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Nationals event in Tennessee this summer? Who participates in that and what was the experience like?
 
The NATS auditions are open to any vocal student whose teacher is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. They have categories in Classical, Spirituals, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary Music, divided by age and voice part. You begin at the local/regional level and can progress through multiple rounds at each level up to the national level. This is actually the third year I’ve been fortunate enough to make it to the semi-final and final rounds of the NATS auditions at the national level. Last year I traveled to San Diego for the finals and placed first in the country for Musical Theatre. This year, I tried a new category, Contemporary Music, and placed second overall. I have done so much in Musical Theatre that it is fun to try something new and see where that takes me. Each year, I’ve gotten valuable feedback from professionals at each level of the audition process which has allowed me to continually improve and work on my craft. And each year I’ve met so many talented singers who all join in the spirit of healthy competition to improve and showcase our talents. We all learn from each other and celebrate our accomplishments together. As a bonus, I’ve gotten to visit very cool places each year for the final round – first Chicago, then San Diego, and most recently, Knoxville Tennessee.
 
How has your experience with Westwood Stage helped prepare you for bigger opportunities?
 
Participating in Westwood Stage has given me a fun and joyful space where I can learn from excellent teachers and share the process and the stage with my super-talented peers. I’m so grateful to have an outstanding and clearly valued performing arts department right at school which leaves me free to do other things outside of school. I know many towns are not as fortunate. In middle school, I was hired for two professional productions at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut and had to attend virtual school for most of my 6th and 7th grade years to accommodate the 8-show-a-week performance schedule. It was an amazing experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I did miss my friends here in Westwood and was happy to return in-person for high school. Having worthwhile performance opportunities provided by school allows me to have a normal academic experience while still constantly performing and building my skills. I’m incredibly grateful to have such a wonderful program in public school, facilitated by fantastic, supportive teachers like Mr. Goldman, Mr. Howard, Ms. Walsh and others, and to have an academic administration that values the arts as much as it does. My parents are both former performers and we moved to Westwood, in large part, because of the school system and the top-notch arts department. We have definitely not been disappointed!
 
In a perfect world, where do you envision yourself in ten years?
 
Ten years is a rather long way off, so I expect my goals might change quite a lot in that time. After I graduate this year, I’m looking to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre, but also hope to minor in either history or engineering. Obviously, the dream right now is Broadway, but all I really want is to be performing in some capacity. If I’m fortunate enough to be doing Broadway or touring productions full-time, great! If I get a normal 9-5 and do theater on a more local level, also great. As long as I’m performing and sharing my love for the stage, I’ll be happy.
 

Congratulations, William, for being our August Featured Artist! If you’d like to nominate an artist of any sort to be featured – music, acting, painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. – please email dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com

 
Publisher’s Note – Anaiya Chowdry recently finished fifth grade at Martha Jones and competed in the SIFMA Foundation’s Fall 2023 National InvestWrite Competition. The essay featured below was written by Anaiya and placed her fourth among thousands of participants nationwide for her astute insights into the dynamics of capital markets in the elementary school division. In recognition of her accomplishment, Anaiya and her teacher, Joe Parkhurst, were honored by the SIFMA Foundation during a special ceremony at Martha Jones.
 
Many people see the stock market as a maze of big numbers and complex graphs. But what if I told you that the stock market could be my family’s ticket to a heartwarming reunion in 2033? We all live in different places around the world, and many of us haven’t met before. In 10 years, I want to bring my family together for a Caribbean cruise. If I could do that, it would mean the world to me.
 

To make this dream come true, I’m planning to invest in the stock market. If I make logical decisions, I can make enough money to afford this cruise. There are 20 people in my family, and I figured out that with the cost of the cruise and things getting more expensive each year, I’ll need about $65,000 in 10 years. I’m starting with $10,000, and I need this money to grow rapidly (over 20%) each year.
 
First, I’m going to spread out my $10,000 in different, diversified ways. I’ll put $3,000 in stocks, $4,000 in mutual funds, and $2,000 in bonds. I am putting more money in stocks and mutual funds so that my portfolio can grow faster. Mutual funds and stocks can be risky though. Bonds are less risky and are often safer. It’s always smart to have some extra money set aside, in case of an emergency. So, I am keeping $1,000 in cash, just in case I need it for something unexpected.
 
Since I have 10 years, which is a really long time (almost as much as I’ve been alive!) I can start with investments that might go up or down a lot but could still grow well over time. Later, I can switch to safer investments as I get closer to my goal. I used a website called tradingview.com to search for investments that have a good track record, even if they are volatile (but not too volatile!) in their ups and downs!
 
Investing is like packing the perfect lunch box. You wouldn’t just pack apples every day! What if some days they don’t taste as good? It’s better to have a diverse mix – a sandwich, pretzels, yogurt, and maybe a cookie. That way, you have other appetizing options, if you don’t like one.
 
In investing, diversifying your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds (like my lunch box!) means if one isn’t doing great, the others might still be ok. For example, me and my 5th grade Stock Market Game partner put a lot of money into Nvidia, (NVDA) but it wasn’t doing so great. Luckily, we also had money in
Amazon, (AMZN) which was still making a lot of profit. So, you can see why it’s good to have different types of investments. When one isn’t doing well, another might be performing excellently and can make up for your loss.
 
Sectors can be helpful for diversifying your portfolio even more. Some sectors could be health, technology, and ecommerce. Sectors that seem to do well are financials, industrials, and real estate to name a few. So, choosing different sectors can also help protect you against risks during rocky market conditions.
 
Now that I understand what I am looking for, I searched for volatile (but not too volatile) stocks that have a good five-year track record.
 
I picked three stocks: Atlas Lithium Corporation (ATLX), Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD), and Nvidia Corporation (NVDA). I’m putting $1,000 in each. ATLX is doing super well and CHRD is steadily going up. NVDA is a company that supplies AI hardware and software, so the chances are that it will continue to perform well.
 
Then, I’ll put $4,000 in a mutual fund called Powerful Momentum Fund Class A Shares (MOJAX). Mutual funds are neat because someone else, called a fund manager, combines different investments together, so it’s not as risky as picking your own stocks. I also like this fund because they also invest in a Caribbean cruise line (Royal Caribbean) – and it would be so cool to think I might be a shareholder in the ship that eventually takes us on vacation!
 
I’m also thinking about putting $2,000 in a treasury bond. That’s like lending money to the government. I feel safe putting some money in a treasury bond because they aren’t known for their volatility, like stocks. Now I’ve spent $9,000 on a diversified portfolio, with $1,000 to spare. Hopefully these stocks, bonds, and mutual funds will grow over 10 years.
 
As a 5th grader playing the Stock Market Game, I’ve learned a lot. And through this essay, I hope you did, too! If I can, I would love to take this journey and sail to success.
 

Congratulations, Anaiya, for being this month’s Standout Student! Nominate a future Tinsley Team Standout Student of the Month by emailing Diana Bezdedeanu at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com and if you’d like to give back to your community and sponsor a regular feature in Westwood Living, contact Tom Leyden at tleyden@bestversionmedia.com

Devin Hunt graduated from Westwood High School in June, and also spent time during his high school years at Noble and Greenough, where he earned a scholarship from Holy Cross to pitch for the Crusaders baseball team.

You had a unique high school experience spending time at two different schools. How would you summarize your high school years and what did you take away from each experience?
Freshman year at Westwood was the COVID year, and included a recovery from a torn ACL, so it had its challenges. Transferring to Noble and Greenough was a bit like going off to college. It took some time to get used to learning in a very different academic setting, along with getting to know new people. It was a rewarding experience. I stayed close with my friends in Westwood, which was important to me. I feel lucky things worked out as they did. I was able to graduate with the kids who I grew up with in Westwood, and spend my last year in school with my brother. Both schools have prepared me well for college.

Returning for your senior year at Westwood – you jumped right into a leadership role as quarterback of the football team. What made the football team successful?
I think one of the main things that made our team successful was that it had numerous leaders. Good coaching, consistent effort and determination helped a lot as well. We had some spots during the season where we could have folded after some tough losses, but we pulled through and ultimately had a strong finish.

How much of a relief was it to you that your college decision was made earlier than most? How did it affect your senior year?
I feel really fortunate to have had committed my junior summer. I could have let the recruiting process continue into senior year, but I would likely not have been able to rejoin my friends and my brother in Westwood. So committing to Holy Cross last summer enabled that to happen and gave me great senior year experience.

Do you have any advice for other students who are looking to play sports in college and are going through the recruitment process?
I guess I’d say two things. One, it takes a lot of hard work and a fair bit of sacrifice without being sure of the outcome. So my advice is to just keep working and be proud of the time and effort you put into your goals. Two, and perhaps unfortunately, it takes a significant degree of specialization these days. My junior year, I had to decide between focusing on either baseball or football training along with recruiting. It became too much to balance both. Your competition in the recruiting process is typically focused on one sport and often one position. This held true within game of baseball, where almost 100% of my training was focused on pitching alone.

The baseball team enjoyed a lot of success this year – how would you summarize the season?
So many people contributed to the success. It was one of those true teams. We had around 20 kids on the roster and each played a special role on and off the field. We supported each other and the coaches believed in all of the players. Being able to play alongside my brother was the best part of my season.

What do you like most about pitching? Why have you been successful?
Pitching allows you to control the outcome in a way most other athletic activities don’t. This holds true in both training and games. I think my success has been tied a lot to the training I’ve put in and perseverance when things are tough. Pitching is hard. You have to think optimistically or sometimes not think at all, and just keep going.

Who’s the most engaging and entertaining teammate you’ve had – football or baseball – or both?
I’ve had so many but I’d have to say my friend Dagen from Nobles, who I played baseball and football with. He is a one-of-a-kind balance of the intensity of a D1 athlete and a care-free attitude towards the game. It reminds you that these are really just games we play in the end.

What was it about Holy Cross that sold you?
I was drawn to Holy Cross from the beginning of my recruiting for both baseball and football. It’s a strong academic school with a high level of focus on various D1 athletics. They were invested in me from an early stage. My impression of the coaches and program were quite positive. Beyond that, I have met many alumni that have loved Holy Cross.

What are you looking forward to most about your college experience?
Becoming increasingly independent and continuing to learn and challenge myself, in both academics and baseball.

What’s a memory or two from your time in Westwood that will stick with you forever?
Athletically, probably when we won the 10U summer championship in Little League. That was an awesome day and we felt on top of the world. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood took place in Little League, running around Morrison Park. My buddies and I have been able to look back on those days so fondly. Beating Holliston this past year in our final football game together will always stick with me as well.

Congratulations, Devin, and good luck at Holy Cross! If you want to nominate someone to be a future Dental Arts of Westwood Athlete of the Month, email Diana Bezdedeanu at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com

WESTWOOD – Between the 1986 Larry Bird Celtics and the 2002 Tom Brady Patriots, none of our pro sports teams won a title. A frustrating era, indeed. But it all turned around, and with the Celtics claiming the NBA Championship in June, we now boast 13 championships in just over two decades. Wow!
 

Which is your favorite of this baker’s dozen of domination? With new seasons soon to begin for three of the locals, I hereby present my scientific, calculated ranking (which is also completely subjective, and heavily influenced by my irritation with Red Sox ownership!) To wit:
 

13. Boston Red Sox 2018 – At one point an astonishing 90-39; a fairly easy World Series win; yet, marked failure to reignite much passion. Four-hour snooze-fests and an apathetic ownership group showing its true colors…baseball’s fall from favor exemplified.
 

12. Boston Bruins 2010-2011 – I wanted them higher up the list, but this isn’t a popularity contest. Well…actually this IS a popularity contest, and the Bruins aren’t winning. Wasn’t it just a fluke – Tim Thomas got hot and backstopped the perpetual underachievers to a Stanley Cup?
 

11. Boston Red Sox 2007 – Lacking non-Papelbonian reasons to remember them. Red Sox ownership doesn’t care anymore, so teams that didn’t break a curse or bring a city together after a tragedy get forgotten.
 

10. Boston Celtics 2023-2024 – Yeah, yeah, I hear the hue and cry – you say it’s near the top, I say recency bias. I think they are historically great; deserving champions for sure. But I’d rather re-watch old Tom Brady Super Bowls than that Finals series. ‘Nuff said!
 

9. New England Patriots 2004-2005 – The last of an incredible run of three Super Bowls bunched together. Maybe lost in the shuffle a bit…the game itself was less thrilling than the other two. Still legendary, just not at the top of our list.
 

8. New England Patriots 2018-2019 – Go back and re-read #9!
 

7. New England Patriots 2003-2004 – A big gap between this team and the preceding #13 through #8. The second amazing Super Bowl, the true birth of the dynasty. Bruschi and that defense! Young Brady at the helm. Vinatieri’s foot again. Legendary!
 

6. Boston Celtics 2007-2008 – It was “back to glory” for the NBA’s most storied franchise. The Pierce-Garnett-Allen superteam throttled the league, taking down Kobe Bryant and the hated Lakers in the Finals. Our Hub earned what was then a sixth title in six years across three sports.
 

5. New England Patriots 2014-2015 – The Malcolm Butler interception game. The proof that Tom Brady and the Patriots’ dynasty were not done yet. What a game, and what a comeback by the Patriots…though we didn’t realize that an even bigger comeback loomed ahead…
 

4. New England Patriots 2016-2017 – …two short years later. Just say 28-3! Just say it and any fan smiles. I still can’t believe this game happened. Can’t believe those Blank faces. We have been so very lucky to watch some incredible teams, and incredible players – none moreso than the G.O.A.T. of them all, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr.
 

3. Boston Red Sox 2013 – Just like another team on this list, tragedy enhanced the emotions when this group won it all. Six months after the Marathon bombing, the underdog Red Sox completed an inspiring and unexpected World Series run. David Ortiz was never better with his bat or his mouth. This IS our bleeping city – don’t forget it (like Sox ownership forgot the Sox!)
 

2. Boston Red Sox 2004 – Impossible! Curse Reversed, Bloody Sock, Cowboy Up. It magically, finally happened. Do you remember where you were when Keith Foulke underhanded to first for the final out? We were younger then, songs of innocence in our city of blinding lights. We couldn’t have known all the successes ahead…or Sox ownership’s eventual abandonment, leaving us with only our memories of this place and time.
 

1. New England Patriots 2001-2002 – The one that started it all. The Patriots in their red, white and blue. Tom Brady replaced the injured Drew Bledsoe and never looked back. In the shadow of 9/11, and an autumn we will never ever forget, this team shocked and awed us all. Reading the names scrolling during the halftime show; Bono suddenly opening his coat to reveal the American flag. “It’s a beautiful day; don’t let it get away….” Some shed a tear, and believe me, some still do 22 years later, just by thinking – or writing – about it.
 

What a run, folks. Maybe it’s not over yet. LFG!
 

Westwood Living? No…thank YOU for living in Westwood. See you next month, and I look forward to hearing from you any time at jayresha@comcast.net.
 

P.S. Still wondering about the Billy Joel song titles from June? It was NINETEEN! Be a big shot, and go back to find them all!

 
If you listen to sports radio, watch games on TV or scroll through content typically aimed at men, there’s no question you’ve seen and heard people talking about testosterone therapy. As technology has advanced, sophisticated treatment plans have been crafted and promoted to wide audiences. Bridget Hagen, a Westwood resident and Westwood Living’s Expert Contributor in Men’s Health, is dedicated to educating our audience while explaining what makes her company, Wellesley Testosterone, different from most others in the field.
 

“A lot of clinics in the area, and just in general, are still focused on a once weekly injection plan,” said Bridget as we sat in her practice in Wellesley. “A lot of times you have to visit the clinic to receive the injection because it’s given in the muscle, and that’s just inconvenient for people. We want to provide an option people can implement at home and do easily that’s less painful and works better in the long run.”
 
Bridget determines the best course of action by running a detailed set of lab tests for each potential patient before he begins treatment. She also works with him to determine his specific goals of treatment which may vary significantly from patient to patient. Her dedication to precision stems from a career in medicine that’s kept her focused on the most important things. Her columns in Westwood Living cite sources, an important aspect of her contributions, because her treatment recommendations, and the reasons behind them, are always scientifically based.
 

“I think everybody in medicine knows things are based on evidence-based practice at this stage,” she said. “I finished my doctorate last year, so I did my own research-based work on that. I know how important it is for people to understand these claims I share with them are coming from places of evidence. We’re not talking about things that are hearsay or case studies. The reason I feel so committed to citing my sources, with this type of content especially, is because testosterone has gotten such a bad rap. When people think of testosterone, they think of bodybuilders and abuse and they don’t think about the legitimate way to use it to improve their quality of life. When we’re thinking about how it’s been used historically with bodybuilders and what-not, we’re talking about ten to 100 times the doses that I’m prescribing – a completely different scenario.”
 

Bridget is in touch with her demo and has seen the positive impact testosterone therapy can have. As a man ages, his testosterone level drops, which affects not only his physical health, but also his mental health – mood, motivation, drive, focus and sometimes even leads to depression. Addressing these issues head-on is life-changing for those who spend the time to engage and understand how simple it is to take a step forward.
 

“By getting your testosterone in optimal range, you are going to have less of those depressive symptoms and improvement in mood. It also is going to improve motivation and that drive to compete and achieve things that’s so innate in young men and often lost with age. Life after starting testosterone therapy is often described as just an overall sense of wellbeing. It’s hard for men to pinpoint what it is that’s so much better in their life, but they just feel better. I’ve never met somebody who started testosterone replacement who wanted to stop.”
 

Bridget, who has been a nurse for over 10 years and a nurse practitioner for almost four years, enjoys spending time being active with her husband, Matt, and their young son. There’s nothing she likes better than meeting a neighbor and providing a life-changing treatment, so reach out, set up a consultation and have her run those initial labs to determine your eligibility.
 
Listen to my full conversation with Bridget in Episode 108 of the Westwood Living Podcast, found on Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon, Buzzsprout, YouTube and Facebook.

 
It is with great pleasure we announce Jessica Wang, a recent 2024 graduate of Westwood High School, has been named the recipient of a $2,000 academic grant, made possible by The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship and The Rotary Club of Westwood. Jessica was honored and learned the news during Westwood High School’s Senior Class Night ceremony.
 

This year, The Rotary Club of Westwood made a $2,000 donation to The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, and the WES Board of Directors made the commitment to award that money to a single recipient who resides in Westwood, or a combination of multiple recipients who reside in Westwood.
 

After careful consideration of the applications that were submitted by Westwood residents, our application review team determined Jessica’s qualifications set her apart from the field. We are happy to offer this grant as Jessica pursues her academic career at Columbia University.
 

Jessica has won numerous awards during her time at Westwood High School, while leading the Academic Decathlon team to the national competition two consecutive years. She also participated in the American Math Competition and the American Individual Mathematics Examination, for which she was commended for scoring in the top 2.5% nationwide.
 

As one of few female students in STEM classrooms, Jessica’s interactions with her peers and teachers were often affected by misogyny. During her junior year, she was invited to compete in the Math Prize For Girls, spending a weekend at MIT and befriending female mathematicians from across the United States and Canada.
 

In the fall of 2023, Jessica established the New England chapter of INTEGIRLS to foster a community where girls interested in math can dive into male-dominated fields without hesitation. The group hosted in-person competitions at Phillips Exeter Academy and MIT.
 

The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship was founded in 2018 and has awarded more than $90,000 in academic grants since. The foundation provides educational grants to women throughout New England while paying special attention to women entering into one of many male-dominated career paths, including, but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, finance, and law. In aiding women financially, The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship team aims to propel their careers and allow them to shatter any and all glass ceilings and stereotypes.
 

Thank you to The Rotary Club of Westwood for its support and congratulations to Jessica Wang, our 2024 Westwood recipient of The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship.

Everything that takes place in the body is regulated by information contained in the brain and nervous system. The brain is the control center of all bodily functions. The spinal cord and branching nerves send signals from the brain to control and coordinate the function of all of the organs, tissues and systems. Nerves also send signals from the body back to the brain. This relaying of electrical and chemical signals to and from the brain allows the body to function and adapt to everything that we do and experience.
All organ systems and processes in the body connect to the brain including the:
 

• Heart and blood vessels
• Digestive system
• Production of hormones
• Skin and sensory perception
• Immune system
• Muscular and skeletal system
• Detoxification and elimination of waste
• Reproduction system
• Respiratory system
• Regulation of body chemistry

 

The brain controls all that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and feel. It is also the center for our thoughts, emotions, and behavioral responses, both conscious and subconscious. The delicate brain and spinal cord are protected by bone. Pound for pound, bone is harder than cast iron or steel.
 
In order for the body to be healthy, it must be able to adapt to internal and external forces. The body can be subjected to experiences that may overwhelm its ability to fully adapt. These stressors impact the body and may create vertebral subluxations.
 
Vertebral subluxations are disruptions in the motion and/or alignment of spinal bones with related irritation or obstruction of proper nerve function. Vertebral subluxations alter the ability of the brain and nervous system to properly control and coordinate the body, which results in decreased body function, adaptability and vitality.
 
Vertebral subluxations are like static in a communication system. They prevent the brain from accurately perceiving what is happening in the body and from properly regulating bodily functions. Often subluxations are present without pain or symptoms. Left uncorrected, subluxations reduce the function of the body and may manifest in an increase aptitude for disorders, illnesses, disability and disease. An unobstructed nerve system is essential for the body to be healthy and vital.
 
Correcting vertebral subluxations with a specific spinal adjustment allows the body to function better. Free of subluxations, the brain and body function more harmoniously and adapt to stressors more successfully.

You likely won’t forget your first impressions of Virginia and Nick Kayes, Westwood residents who own and operate Barrows Custom Window Treatments, located on Route 9 in Newton. Their energy is palpable and exudes a warm, welcoming vibe. Couple that warmth with the impressive studio they’ve built, surrounded by the world’s most sophisticated and stylish window treatments, and you immediately know you’re in the presence of people who can upgrade your life.
 

This husband and wife duo loves to laugh and meet new people. Over the course of almost two decades, they have impacted thousands by sharing their vision and expertise.
 

“We’ve serviced over 20,000 people’s homes since we’ve owned the business,” said Nick as we chatted in the Barrows studio. “Over a thousand of them in Westwood. So there’s a lot of people in Westwood with Barrows Custom Window Treatments in their homes today.”
 
While Nick runs the books and handles the finances of the business, Virginia puts her knowledge of window treatments to work with customers as they look to update their homes. Her journey to ownership, in and of itself, is impressive.
 

“I became a Barrows employee about 17 years ago, after moving back from Connecticut,” said Virginia. “Barrows was always a very prominent name in the window-covering industry, which I got involved in back in Connecticut. So, of course, when we moved here I came to Barrows looking for employment. I met with the owner, who at the time had never had a female work in the business. He was a little apprehensive about hiring one. I did come on board on the premise of being able to purchase the business from him when he was ready to retire.”
 

At first, the owner Virginia’s referring to didn’t take her seriously, but sure enough, the day came and Virginia bought the business. She’s been the owner for 14 years.
 

“When I first started in the industry, everything featured standard pull-cords, but now things have evolved to cordless, hand-operated systems and rechargeable battery, as well as hardwired treatments,” said Virginia. “The industry standards have changed due to child-safety regulations and what we’ve witnessed is the evolution of cordless treatments.”
 
“Technology has drastically improved,” said Nick. “I am in the engineering side of the world, so seeing the motorization and where the technology has come is impressive. You can operate everything from your Alexa to your cell phones, which is cool.”
 
Barrows Custom Window Treatments works hand-in-hand with Hunter Douglas as a Centurion Dealer and is New England’s largest Hunter Douglas Gallery dealer.
 
“All of our employees, from sales consultants to the installation staff, are certified with Hunter Douglas. We’re proud to offer their full product line along with some soft window treatments, as well as drapes, Roman shades, pillows and fabric by the yard. Our primary line of products are all Hunter Douglas.”
 
When should you be thinking about your window treatments? How about now!
 
“We do like to get started as early as possible,” said Virginia. “Especially if motorization is going to be a consideration. We need to work with your contractor or builder, especially for hard-wiring, pre hard-wiring of the windows themselves. So, the earlier the better.”
 
Nick was also quick to point out the benefits available to you just because you’re reading this feature.
 
“Mention that you’re calling us because you are familiar with Westwood Living,” he said. “We do offer special values for our Westwood neighbors.”
 
Listen to my full conversation with Virginia and Nick in Episode 107 of the Westwood Living Podcast, available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon, Buzzsprout, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
 

From the peak of the 1980s to the early 2000s arcades declined significantly in numbers due to strict zoning laws and the launch of home video consoles. Greater Boston was an epicenter of arcade popularity, but you also could find arcade games and pinball machines at places like laundromats, convenience stores, barbershops, and really any business with extra square footage where an arcade cabinet or pinball machine could be placed for an additional revenue stream. However, not everyone was a fan of the explosive popularity of video games in Boston and surrounding towns. As a result, Boston became the first major city to “zone out” arcades, preventing video games from being present in a lot of areas throughout Boston.
 
There are still many towns in Massachusetts where zoning laws put in place in the 80s make it nearly impossible to open arcades today. Zoning boards and other governing bodies deemed arcades to be a nuisance business where people could spend a quarter to loiter all day and these laws, plus the rise in popularity of home gaming consoles paved the way for arcades to become extinct – like video stores, record stores, roller-skating rinks and other fun social places that kids from the 80s spent lots a lot of hours hanging out.
 

For me, arcades brought me a lot of joy as a child and I spent tons of time at different arcades with friends and family pumping quarters into machines. I remember being brought to tears as a kid when I found out that my favorite arcade was going out of business.
 

However, since 2010, a funny thing has happened in most other parts of the US/Canada. Classic or retro arcades have surged in popularity, but greater Boston has still largely been excluded. There are upwards of 100 retro-themed arcades in the tri-state New York City area. In Boston, there are still only about five classic-style arcades. A classic arcade is typically a combination of classic games from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s with a mix of arcade staples like pinball, air hockey, skeeball, bubble hockey, and more.
 

Places like FunSpot in New Hampshire and the Galloping Ghost Arcade in Greater Chicago (both places claim to be the largest arcades in the world), helped pave the way for the explosive growth in classic arcades.
 

That is why my family and I opened Hometown Arcade in Norwood in May of 2023. We opened our doors to provide a place for families and friends to spend quality fun times together. We love seeing multiple generations of families play games together and moms or dads showing kids how to play games they grew up playing as kids. The thing about these games is that they still hold up. While newer arcade games can often be very impressive with intricate stories and almost life-like graphics, they are often games that can’t be played with other people. PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Tron and so many of your old-time favorites still hold up and kids can quickly learn these games. However, for some, retro gaming isn’t their thing, so we also have newer video game consoles on TVs and other attractions like Virtual Reality.
 

When I was a kid, going to the arcade meant going to meet friends or family to have fun together. Yes, there was some lighthearted ribbing and maybe a little trash-talking, but the arcade always brought a lot of joy and fun. We’d often watch each other play or play multi-player games together fighting against the bad guys. We are trying to bring this experience back and love to see all generations come to Hometown Arcade and experience pure joy while knowing they haven’t shelled out big bucks swapping tickets for cheap junk. While it’s tough to describe this emotion that we often see on our customers’ faces, hopefully these pictures included in this article demonstrate the magic that a classic arcade can provide.
 

We love serving the communities surrounding Norwood and Westwood. We’re opening a second location in Bloomfield, NJ in September and we hope to expand to additional locations in Massachusetts in the near future.