June 17, 2021 ❙ Vol

COMMUNITY BUSINESS SPORTS Pet of the week: Shop and learn at Palmer falls Meet Miley the meeting house to rival Ware Page 2 Page 9 Page 7 SERVING PALMER, MONSON, BRIMFIELD, HOLLAND & WALES The Journal Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com June 17, 2021 ❙ Vol. CLXX, No. 20 ❙ $1.00 www.journalregister.turley.com WORLD CLASS MONSON Pathfinder tech team makes finals in international robotics match Turley Publications photo by Michael Harrison Monson Town Administrator Jennifer Wolowicz presents Ed Harrison with an official town shirt, one of several gifts he received during a reception to honor the long-serving selectman’s commitment to Monson. It’s the end of an era al that had a roomful of well-wish- Ed Harrison exists ers laughing. Not that it was all fun and games in town government town government during Harrison’s years of service. Clearly, though, his legacy is rooted By Michael Harrison in a desire to serve the public and Turley Publications staff photo by Jonah Snowden [email protected] Team 785A, compromised of team Captain Michaela Tourtellot, Co-captain, and Lead Programmer Ethan Griswold, Scoring Specialist McKenna Martin, respect others regardless of where Game Specialist Harrison Lavoie, Operator Hunter Skowyra, and Programmer Catalina Mudgett. someone stands in the hierarchy. MONSON — After more than “We only meet twice a month,” By Jonah Snowden Harrison Lavoie, Operator Hunter week. He also said the dedication of 40 years of service to his town, in- Harrison said of the select board be- [email protected] Skowyra, and Programmer Catali- Electronic Technology In- Team 785A is something that goes cluding more than two decades as fore the reception. na Mudgett. structor and VEX Robotics Club beyond the previous teams the a Selectman, Ed Harrison was as “The town manager and the PALMER – History was made At the World Championship, mentor Kyle Lussier said from day school has fielded in the past. humble after leaving office as he town finance director and the de- at Pathfinder Regional Vocational held remotely, the team competed one, the members of Team 785A “In all the years we’ve been was entering it. partment heads, they do most of the Technical High School when the against some 800 teams from 35 buckled down and prepared to give doing it, I’ve never seen a team as “When I first met Ed the first day-to-day work and keep the town Tech VEX Robotics Club’s Team countries with their robot Rome to it their all at each competition. dedicated and devoted as them,” thing he said was ‘we’re going running,” he said. 785A competed at the 2021 Live successfully complete all of its as- “They reached out to us im- Lussier said. to like working with you,’” for- “Yes, we have to read the re- Remote VEX Robotics World signed tasks. The team was able to mediately and said ‘we don’t want Team 785A is proud of mak- mer Monson Town Administrator ports and get to make decisions, but Championship recently and nearly win three of its four matches on the to stop dead in the water,’” Lussier ing it to World Championship and Gretchen Neggers said at a recep- there are capable people that actu- won. first day and two additional match- said. nearly claiming global supremacy. tion at Town Hall Friday to honor ally do much of the town’s business The team is comprised of es on the second. “They asked if they could “I think that it was a pretty Harrison, who did not seek another who maybe get overlooked and they team Captain Michaela Tourtellot, Although the team was defeat- come to the school, socially dis- successful year,” Griswold said. term in last week’s elections. should get the recognition they de- Co-captain, and Lead Programmer ed in the finals, the students’ ef- tanced, get the tools they need, and “We experienced a lot more, “I said, ‘I don’t think that’s serve.” Ethan Griswold, Scoring Specialist forts were acknowledged by their just dove into it headfirst on their how it works. I work for you!’” McKenna Martin, Game Specialist instructors and Pathfinder staff last own.” PATHFINDER ❙ page 5 That anecdote was one of sever- HARRISON ❙ page 6 PUBLIC SAFETY Built in ’78, has this firehouse outlived its intended purpose? By Michael Harrison tasked with serving nearly 9,000 building it has occupied since 1978 don’t even have the creature com- [email protected] people spread out over about 45 and into the 21st century. Monson firefighter forts you’d find in the average auto square miles. By any objective measure, the Tom Joyce can’t really dealership. A single room serves as Editor’s note: This is the first in “We’re fortunate that everyone current situation is untenable. stretch out on the a kitchen and dining space, a work a periodic series on the needs of the has been supportive of our depart- Cracks are visible all around tiny bed in one of the area, and a place where depart- Monson Fire Department. ment over the years,” Harris said. the station house exterior as well small rooms avail- ment members can take a breather MONSON — Brian Harris “When you’re that young, you as inside. The building has long able for firefighters to or socialize. They don’t even have can’t say enough about how sup- don’t recognize how supportive the suffered from water damage, lacks grab some rest when a couch or even one recliner. Only portive the town has been to the town is, but as I’ve grown with the modern facilities and it’s just plain needed. donated, second-hand hardback Monson Fire Department. department and changed roles and cramped. Everything from simple chairs. He’s been with the department responsibilities and seeing the big- record keeping to maintaining the When a call comes in, fire- since his senior year of high school ger picture, you find out how much ill-housed internet and phone lines fighters grab their gear from a rack in 1994 and became a career mem- funding is behind it. And the town takes considerably more time and squeezed between trucks and barely ber in 2006. It’s not until fairly has been very supportive and that’s effort than it should and the public’s have elbow room while putting it recently that Harris, who became great.” investment in vital equipment loses on. The gear itself reeks of the ex- chief a little over a year ago, began He’s counting on that support value daily because a lack of garage haust fumes it’s exposed to in a ga- to fully appreciate how deep that to continue when the time comes space means those trucks and oth- rage so tightly packed that average support runs when considering the next year for the public to decide if er vehicles are exposed to the ele- sized adults have to walk sideways expense of funding a profession- the Monson Fire Department will ments. al department with 35 employees be able to make the leap out of the Firefighters and other personnel FIREHOUSE ❙ page 6 Turley Publications staff photo by Michael Harrison SCHOOLS GOVERNMENT Billie Jean Rubio past year or two that you disagree Brimfield with? Please explain. Tantasqua Class of 2021 held together Age:36 Excelled all year despite Occupation: Real Estate Agent Rubio: Nothing stands out to me voters go Education: Graduate of Tanta- here. The board in my opinion has pandemic squa Regional High 2003 been mostly successful in gathering Prior public offices information and making to the polls informed decisions for the By Eileen Kennedy held: None town. Staff writer June 21 Q: What do you feel Q: Like neighboring STURBRIDGE – Two hundred is the No. 1 issue facing BRIMFIELD — There towns, Brimfield is large- eighty Tantasqua Regional High Brimfield residents and are four candidates in next ly a “bedroom communi- School students graduated Satur- what would you like to do week’s race for two open ty” and rural with con- day, and celebrated all they’ve done to address it? seats on the Select Board. In siderable open space. Are despite more than a year of ups and addition to incumbent Caro- you satisfied with that downs due to COVID-19. Rubio: It has become lyn Haley, challengers Mar- status quo, or would you “The Class of 2021 is a very apparent that there may be tin Kelly, Pat Leaming, and like the town to encour- special class in the alumni of Tan- several smaller scale issues, Billie Jean Petrie Rubio are age more development? If tasqua,” said School Committee candidates for the five-mem- rather than just one outstand- ing issue. I believe that if I had to you want to see more development, HALLOWEEN ❙ page 12 ber board. The two top what would you like to see - resi- vote-getters will serve three- pick one as my biggest focal point, it would be the town budget. dential, commercial/retail? A mix year terms. of both? If no, why do you think Turley Publications staff photos by Eileen Kennedy Here’s a Q&A we con- it’s best to leave things as they are? Students stand as they wait for the rest of their fellow seniors to take their ducted by email with some of Q: Are there any decisions the current select board made in the places. the candidates: ELECTION ❙ page 5 PAGE 2 June 17, 2021 ❙ THE JOURNAL REGISTER MONSON ELECTIONS Oney elected to Select Board; More milestones: Libraries emerging from pandemic lockdown Morgan wins School Committee seat By Jonah Snowden [email protected] BRIMFIELD/WALES – For the first time in a year, patrons can feel free to stop into their local libraries.

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