Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. IV, No. 21 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM “If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.” Friday, February 25, 2011 School building project called ‘too expensive’ al factors, including the use of green Department has DOUGLAS VOTERS PREPARE TO ACT ON $49.9M PLAN technology and energy efficient gave us an extra infrastructure, as well as the new .9 points, and building being a “model school.” green energy BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY mentary school and retrofitting of “In November the town approved According to the MSBA, a model gives us two TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER the current intermediate school schematic design, and we’ve com- school is one that utilizes design ele- points.” DOUGLAS — A Special Town into a middle school. pleted the schematic design,” said ments that have been used in other There are Meeting is set for Monday,March 28, Of the total project cost, the town Selectman Mitch Cohen, a School projects and are proven to help with some costs asso- the first of two votes required for would only have to foot slightly less Building Committee member, of the energy costs and overall building ciated with the the town to proceed with a major than half the bill, as the $495,000 approved at the last fall efficiency. project, Cohen school construction project. Massachusetts School Building Town Meeting. “The architects are “We’re the first modal elementary said, that are not The follow up ballot vote is sched- Authority has pledged a reimburse- finalizing the submission to the Mitch Cohen school in the state, that gives us five reimbursable by uled be held Tuesday, April 5. ment rate of 54.16 percent for the state on the project.” points,” Cohen said of the reim- the state, such as The town is being asked to conversion of the intermediate Cohen said the initial reimburse- bursement rate. “The maintenance certain sections of roadway,outdoor approve $49.9 million for a new ele- school and 62.07 percent for con- ment pledge of just more than 53 program that the School struction of a new building. percent increased because of sever- Turn To SCHOOL page A6 Courtesy photo The old farmhouse at Cormier Woods Cormier Woods offers looking glass to history BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY homestead in Mendon and would go TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER on to be elected as a representative Christopher Tanguay photo UXBRIDGE — More than 300 in the General Court. Division of Health Care Finance and Policy Commissioner David Morales spoke to the Blackstone Valley Chamber of years ago, in the middle of the 17th Josiah’s son, Capt. Seth Chapin Commerce Feb. 16. century, a man named Samuel amassed great wealth in Braintree, Chapin, along with his wife Cicely catapulting the Chapin family into and numerous children, arrived at the highest social circles of the bud- Boston Harbor from England. ding nation. Now, at least one of the Chapin Capt. Chapin’s son, Seth Chapin, Morales outlines healthcare changes homesteads is being held in perpe- would go on to marry Abigail tuity as a looking glass, through Adams, aunt of John Adams, the which people can see a glimpse of second president of the United Massachusetts’ — and America’s — States, and lived on what is now the COMMISSIONER ADDRESSES BVCC past. Mendon, Hopedale line. Over the next century, after It is to Seth and Abigail’s son, arrival in the New World, the pos- Moses Chapin, that the Blackstone BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY care laws. Peterson, R-Grafton, and state terity of Samuel Chapin would go Valley is historically connected. TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Morales was the guest speaker Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury. on to be some of the most formida- Moses Chapin — 1736-1802 — and GRAFTON — Commissioner at the first Chamber of Commerce Morales explained the role of ble figures in the Massachusetts Bay his wife Lydia Atwood lived some- David Morales of the state breakfast meeting of the year, held the seldom heard about division of Colony. what more humbly than his father, Division of Health Care Finance on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the state government, saying it Samuel Chapin himself was one grandfather, and great grandfather and Policy met with members of Highfields Country Club in does not actually administer any of the first settlers of Springfield before, farming a 100-plus acre the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Grafton. programs, but rather analyzes and areas west of the Chicopee homestead wedged in between those Commerce last week to talk about Also in attendance at the break- healthcare policy and decision River. His son, Josiah, established a Turn To WOODS page A6 the differences between newly fast were state Reps. Ryan modified state and federal health- Fattman, R-Sutton, George Turn To HEALTH page A8 Webster Legion Northbridge Green plan progresses BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Theodore Kozak, at least three of to donate aid dog TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER the five are well on their way to com- NORTHBRIDGE — Town offi- pletion, though the remaining two BY JOY RICHARD Kuhn said obtaining aid dogs for cials are continuing to work toward will take a little more time to fulfill. STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER earning the designation of a Green One requirement is for the town combat veterans is something he Community and hope to have some to adopt expedited permitting for WEBSTER — They are on a mis- holds close to his heart. The dogs, he solid ideas to present to residents by development of designated sites or sion to find companionship for those explained, can bring something to a fall. buildings. That requirement was who have sacrificed the most. returning veteran that is different Cities and towns that meet the satisfied when the town adopted For many veterans, the process of from human companionship, along qualifications to become Green Mass. General Law chapter 43D, coming home from active duty is with the unconditional love that Communities are then eligible for which provides just such an expe- only the beginning of becoming re- most pets bring their masters. grant money from the state dited permitting model. acclimated to life as a civilian. For “The need for dogs is so great and Department of Energy and “We’ve already started that those who are disabled, the chal- very little funding is made available Environmental Affairs, to assist process,” Kozak said. “The first lenges can be even more intense. to purchase and train the dogs,” said with energy efficiency and renew- step.” Webster-Dudley American Legion Kuhn. “At the American Legion in able energy initiatives. Another requirement is for the Post #184 Commander of Funds Webster, we have decided to do what- As of the end of 2010, 53 munici- prospective town to purchase only Karl Kuhn said the group is current- ever we can.” palities qualified as Green fuel-efficient vehicles. ly in the process of soliciting fund- Kuhn said the group is looking to Communities and countless others The requirement offers exemp- ing for the Canines for Combat raise $10,000 to cover the expense of worked to poise themselves for the tions for emergency and other spec- Veterans organization. the dog plus the necessary training same opportunity. ified vehicles. Kuhn said the Legion would host a for the canine and its owner. In order to become a Green Kozak said because the town does fundraiser dance for the group on “The dog assists the handler with not provide employees with person- Saturday, March 26 at the Webster- his or her transition to prosthetics Community, municipalities must Courtesy photo meet five requirements. al vehicles, the bulk of the town- Dudley American Legion Hall, 9 and helps with wheelchair bound Northbridge is developing a plan for renew- Houghton St., Webster. According to Town Manager Turn To DOG A6 Turn To PLAN page A8 able energy to submit to voters this year. age A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A9 ....................... SENIOR SCENE A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A10 .............................. SPORTS CONTACT THE TRIBUNE EDITOR AT A6 .................................... OBITUARIES B SECT........................ CALENDAR ANDY STONEBRIDGEPRESS COM INSIDE @ . 2 • Friday, February 25, 2011 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE VALLEY NOTEBOOK TRIBUNE ALMANAC Harbro a repeat winner QUOTATION OF THE WEEK “I want to build a school BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY 200,000 reviews on it, so it’s a pret- the customer.” Kozak said the Center for TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER ty well trafficked site.” Hare said Harbro’s mission has Governmental Research, a that our children need and REGION — For a second con- Reviews are divided into two always been, “to change the way municipal research organization, our taxpayers can afford. secutive year, a Blackstone Valley categories on the site, those sell- people feel about car dealers by would be conducting a full assess- business has shown that quality ing new vehicles and those selling treating people the way we want ment of all interested depart- This project right now is customer service is critical to used ones. Harbro sells certified to be treated.” ments to work out the potential simply too expensive.” remaining successful. used cars between six years and Hare said that mantra has logistics of the different dispatch- Harbro Auto Sales and Service six months old. enabled Harbro to stay viable. ers working together. — Douglas Selectman Tim Bonin, on a of Northbridge was recently “There’s about 40,000 used car “It has dipped,” Hare said of Regionalized operations may be $49.9 million school building project. named best used-car dealership dealers in the country and we business, due to the economy. suggested for a smaller consor- in the country by were rated the best,” Hare said of “But we’ve been able to stay prof- tium of towns pending the results OPEN TO CLOSE DealerRater.com.