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Hanna Conveniently Located On Route 9 • (Corner of Greenville St. & Main St.) 284 Main St., Spencer 508-885-5511 Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. IX, No. 4 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET Friday, January 22, 2016 Southbridge THIS WEEK’S Fire destroys QUOTE Publick House teen dies at “If only life could be a little more Bigelow Hollow tender and art a lit- tle more robust.” Motor Lodge CAR SINKS AFTER FALLING Alan Rickman THROUGH ICE EDITOR’S BY OLIVIA RICHMAN 18-year-old Emily Blouin. NEWS STAFF WRITER Connecticut State OFFICE HOURS UNION, Conn. — Police Troop C received MONDAYS 12-5 Four young adults a call around 8 p.m. on from Southbridge were Tuesday, Jan. 12. When EDNESDAYS W 1-5 involved in a tragic acci- the trooper arrived, a FRIDAYS 1-5 dent at Bigelow Hollow 2004 Subaru Legacy was State Park in Union, already completely sub- Conn., on Tuesday night, Jan. 12. A sinking car Please Read CRASH, page A12 INSIDE resulted in the death of ALMANAC ....................2 POLICE LOGS................5 OBITUARIES ............... 14 Seniors go out to OPINION ................... 10 “There was a lot of community efforts that we are thankful for,” said Publick House General Manager Michael Glick. CALENDAR ................ 12 SPORTS ............... 16-17 lunch at Bay Path RESIDENTS RESPOND TO HELP IN LOCAL BY OLIVIA RICHMAN RESCUE EFFORTS NEWS STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — While the Senior Center is BY OLIVIA RICHMAN NEWS STAFF WRITER closed, due to Town Hall renovations, seniors STURBRIDGE — On Sunday in town have found a morning, Jan. 10, at around new spot to socialize 3:59 a.m., the Sturbridge over lunch — Bay Path Police Department got a call Regional Vocational Catching up that there was a four-alarm Technical High School. fire at the Publick House. Until the end of February, Olivia Richman photos with ‘Doug The Sturbridge fire engines Bay Path will be serving arrived at 4:05 a.m., where $4 lunch for seniors. Marilyn and Donald Norcross Danger’ they saw one of the lodges “Bay Path is a big part of said they are “very pleased” Page A3 engulfed in flames. the communities it serves with the meals served at Bay The lodge had 16 rooms, and we are always looking Path. Said Marilyn: “They’re and 15 had been occupied by for ways to be helpful,” doing an excellent job. Being a wedding party on that busy said Superintendent John in the restaurant business LEARNING Saturday night. Fire Chief Lafleche. “At the same myself a long time ago before I had children, I can see Photos courtesy Sturbridge Fire Department David Zinther said that there time, we want to get expe- had been reports of people rience for the students in the good job these kids are By 3:59 a.m., 90 percent of the Publick House doing.” Motor Lodge was engulfed in flames. the work world. This proj- Please Read PUBLICK HOUUSE, page A12 ect achieves both of those goals, plus we love senior Please Read LUNCH, page A15 At the top of ‘Taste of the Towns’ set to return next weekend their class Page A6 BY OLIVIA RICHMAN and fundraising are what ous fundraisers through- Director Elaine Materas, especially those on fixed NEWS STAFF WRITER makes Taste of the Towns out the year, the biggest many seniors have incomes,” said Materas. CHARLTON — The a town favorite, with an being the Taste of the breathing issues where “These are the people Residential Energy average of 300 to 400 par- Towns. they need to be inside that built our town and SPORTS Assistance for Seniors ticipants each year. The $25,000 went with air conditioning, have carried us all this (REAS) 8th Annual Taste REAS awarded 41 towards paying electric which can significantly time. Now it’s time to of the Towns is coming Charlton seniors with and heating bills for local raise their electricity bill give back to them and to St. Joseph’s Church on assistance last year, a seniors, as well as pur- when run for a long time. give them something to Saturday, Jan. 30, from $25,800 total. The money chasing air condition- “To me, it’s important 6-9:30 p.m. Food, friends was raised through vari- ers. According to REAS to help senior citizens, Please Read REAS, page A12 The benefits of goats Tantasqua SHEPHERD’S GATE VISITS girls’ basketball squeaks past HITCHCOCK FOR Pirates, 56-54 EDUCATIONAL TALK Page A16 BY OLIVIA RICHMAN NEWS STAFF WRITER PINION O BRIMFIELD — For GET YOUR Massachusetts resi- POINT ACROSS dents who have always wondered about own- PAGE A10 ing a goat, Shepherd’s Gate Dairy Goat Photos courtesy Sue Gregory Farm’s goat farming POLICE LOGS There are a lot of benefits to goat meat and goat milk, which Jennifer Poirier discussed class at Hitchcock in the class. Free Academy was the PAGE A5 perfect opportunity to learn more about the benefits Gate, came to Hitchcock had a chance to bottle feed goats and responsibilities of owning Academy with four baby goats. at the class. The large crowd at the class goats of their own. The large crowd learned about Poirier has been raising dairy had the opportunity to hold On Thursday, Jan. 14, Jennifer housing, milking, kid rearing, goats for more than 30 years and and bottle feed the baby Poirier, the owner of Shepherd’s feeding, breeding, birthing, first goats. aid and health care. They even Please Read GOAT FARM, page A15 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, January 22, 2016 Norcross lectures a remedy for the winter doldrums BY OLIVIA RICHMAN oak trees, mountain lions, the history of Gage and his mother have published social media, Ohop said she has noticed NEWS STAFF WRITER fisheries and bird varieties found in the a number of books and articles on the that children and young adults are not WALES — The Norcross Nature local area. The next upcoming lecture subject and are currently researching outside as much as they should be. She Sanctuary wants you to know that the is on New England stone structures, on different ways to distinguish structures recalled visiting a high school envi- cold weather doesn’t have to stop you Saturday, Jan. 23, at 1:30 p.m. built by farmers from those built by ronmental education class where the from learning about the world around “It focuses on the case for Native Native Americans. Despite being busy students never actually went outside. you. American stone structures,” said vol- with their research, Ohop said that “We are not separate from nature,” From gardening and bird watching unteer speaker James Gage, who – with Gage and most other volunteers take she said. “We are part of nature. I’d love to local history, the Norcross Nature his mother, Mary – has over 20 years of time out of their life to share their vast for people to come, especially if they Sanctuary has been putting together experience researching historic agri- knowledge at the lectures. haven’t been here before. We are a nice a series of lectures of Saturdays in the cultural and Native American stone As an outdoor enthusiast who loves resource hidden in the woods here. We winter months for the past 20 years, an structures and historic stone quarry- everything from stone walls, bird have walking trails that are open right idea originally started by horticulturist ing in northeastern U.S. “We will also watching and studying bodies of water, now. As long as you’re here, take a pro- Leslie Duthi. have a PowerPoint that discusses com- Ohop said it can be very difficult to pick gram, go for a hike. That’s what we’re “There’s usually not much to do out- mon historic stone structures found in which lectures to have each winter. here for.” side in the wintertime so we explored the woods, like foundations, wells and “There’s an envelope in my desk. For more information on upcoming ideas of having a lecture series to keep stone walls.” Random thoughts will occur to us lectures visit norcrosswildlife.org or people excited about nature,” said Staff Gage and his mother are also encour- throughout the year and we’ll put them call 413-267-9654. Naturalist Jennifer Ohop, “even if they aging attendees to bring in photos of in that envelope,” she said. “As fall aren’t outside as much as they normally stone structures they have found and wanes we find people who would be Olivia Richman can be reached at 508- are.” want more information on. All ques- interested in talking about something 909-4132 or by e-mail at olivia@stone- This winter, there are lectures on tions will be answered after the presen- they’re familiar with.” bridgepress.com. New England cemeteries, identifying tation. With the popularity of technology and Chinese Restaurant NEWS BRIEFS www.foodaw.com/015/dynasty Take-out Service then jumping into the car will allow that seven fire departments in the 1st Church to offer ‘ashes to some quiet time to reflect on how they Hampden District have been awarded Catering Party to Your Place will deepen their relationship with funds through the Student Awareness Please call God and prepare for the resurrection of of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior 508.765.0398 go’ on Ash Wednesday Christ on Easter.” SAFE programs for fiscal year 2016.