Garth Johnson, Cutler Associates; State Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, State Sen. Harriette Chandler, Construction manager, John Boyce; owners Robert and Dave Oriol.

Photo Credit: Daniel Castro

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HOLDEN, Mass. — As their shovels cut through fresh dirt last Friday, the Oriols continued a family tradition of breaking new ground in their service to the community, and several state and local officials were there to support the start of the Holden Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center project.

"Oriol Health Care is not a building, it's a collection of people," said Bob Oriol, president and CEO.

"It's people that come in at six in the morning in a snow storm, or at midnight during an ice storm," he continued. "However, this is a chance where we can now modernize this building so that we can have a structure that is commensurate with the people we have here that work tirelessly 24 by 7 by 48 years — and this will take us another 48 years."

The private groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of the new center. Among those in attendance were Oriol Health Care owners Bob and Dave Oriol, State Sen. Harriette Chandler, State Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Holden Selectman Bob Lavigne, and Jennifer Stanovich from the Holden Area Chamber of Commerce. Rev.

Andre Remillard of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Jefferson was also there to bless the grounds of the future facility.

"The foundations and the surrounding of the building will soon be as beautiful as the people that fill the inside," said Debby Westerback, director of community relations at Oriol Health Care. "This is a cornerstone in the community, and the Oriol family is committed to staying an integral part of this community with the services that they offer both inside and outside of their buildings."

Founded in 1964 by Eugene Oriol, the nursing home began on the site with just 60 beds, explained Westerback.

"Medicaid legislation had just passed and the Oriols were granted the second license in the state to run Holden Nursing Home," she said.

Bob and Dave stepped up to administrative positions in the 1980s at the family's two nursing homes, and now the company currently employs over 400 people at Holden Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, Wachusett Extended Care Facility and Oriol Therapy Services in Holden, and Oakdale Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in West Boylston.

"Many of our staff have spent the majority of their careers here, many local families can tell you they worked here, they stayed at Holden Hospital, knew someone that stayed in Holden, or has worked here."

As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Ferguson and Chandler spoke about Oriol's work in providing care for the community.

"I'm honored to be here because I believe in what the Oriols do and what they will do in the future," said Chandler, who awarded the family with an official citation from the Senate, congratulating and recognizing the expansion and renovation.

As a resident of Holden, Ferguson had worked with Oriol not only as a selectman and in her role as State Rep. but also "as a family member who had loved ones cared for at this facility," she said.

"I am so delighted, and I know on behalf of the community and on behalf of the state I want to thank you for all that you've done. You've been a wondeful partner and such a valuable member of this community, sometimes doing things without the recognition that you truly deserve," said Ferguson.

The $16.6 million dollar project began on Feb. 6, 2012, when builder Cutler Associates started site work on the connected Mayo Drive and Boyden Road Properties.

The Holden Rehab bulding will be renovated and expanded to eventually house 123 combined residents of the current Holden Rehab and Wachusett Exteded Care. The new building will have three "neighborhoods" that will each have 41 resident beds.

The three specialties will be a Short Term Rehab Care, Long Term Skilled Care and Chronic Respiratory Care.

The project is expected to take 16 to 18 months to complete, and is the first phase of several that Oriol has planned for integrated health care in Holden.

As the construction progresses and excitement builds, the Oriols are looking forward to continuing another family tradition when the construction is complete and time comes once again for a ribbon cutting.

"I still have the same scissors that our father used in 1964 when they cut the ribbon here at the nursing home. They are in a glass case and every time we've done a project we've used those same scissors, so in about 16 months we'll be getting those out," said Bob Oriol.