Sturbridge 7-27-07
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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS. Turn clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. 4, No. 45 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET ‘Always be a poet, even in prose.’ Friday, November 5, 2010 Town’s sidewalk issue takes on a winter theme BY RICH HOSFORD er dollars. Director of Public Works Town Administrator Shaun enough to compel landlords who do town decided to reverse the policy of VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Director Greg Morse estimated the Suhoski explained that, about 15 not have businesses in their own handling snow removal, the busi- STURBRIDGE — Will a loss of town spends approximately $20,000 years ago, the board decided to han- buildings to comply,leaving the bur- nesses and landlords must be given greenbacks motivate prompt a year removing snow from side- dle snow removal, but the original den on their tenants. sufficient notice so they can avoid removal of the white stuff this win- walks and a good portion of the bylaw is on the books and applica- “Driving my decision is a concern possible legal consequences. ter? work is done in front of privately ble. that renters will suffer because I am “Businesses need to be given clear The Board of Selectmen decided owned buildings. The town will still “I recommend the town enforce not convinced the landlords will do guidelines,” she said. “If somebody to find out as they reversed a be responsible for removing snow the bylaw to reduce legal exposure it,” he said. “If I were the landlord of gets hurt and sues nobody can say decades-old policy of removing from sidewalks in front of munici- and because of the burden it other- a $650,000 building, will a $10 fine they are not liable because years ago snow from the sidewalks along pal buildings. wise puts on the DPW,” Suhoski make me clear the sidewalks?” the town said it would take care of Route 20 during the meeting on There is a town bylaw requiring said. Selectman Mary Dowling pointed the sidewalks. It is not fair to send Monday, Nov. 1. all property owners to remove snow Chairman of the Board Thomas out that a threat of a lawsuit if two different messages.” The decision, which goes into and ice from the sidewalk in front of Creamer said it might be necessary someone gets hurt in front of their Selectman Ted Goodwin added effect Jan 1, 2011, is meant to reduce their properties within 24 hours of in the future to increase the fine business would convince landlords. liability to the town and save taxpay- accumulation or face a $10 fine. because he fears $10 will not be She said her concern was that if the Turn To SIDEWALKS page A11 You can’t get in there from here EQUAL ACCESS LAWS LOCK TOWN HALL’S FRONT DOORS BY RICH HOSFORD VILLAGER STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — Visitors to the Sturbridge Town Hall may be frus- trated in their attempt to enter if they go to the front door. The doors have been locked since the building reopened in August in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state regu- lations. Some town officials, though, said they would like to have the front doors open for public use. Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski said the Board of Selectmen asked him at a recent meeting to look into the possibility of getting the doors open. The logic was that if the main entrance in the back, which is handicapped accessi- ble, remains open, why could the town not have the front doors as a secondary entrance? “It’s common sense, the board wants the front door of the Town Hall open for convenience,” Suhoski said, adding that people often walk to the building from library or post office or the Central Office Building across the street. “It would be easier for people to have the front doors Rich Hosford photo Shawn Kelley photo open. Also, this is the historic entrance to the building.” The front doors of Town Hall have been STURBRIDGE — Ripe apples are seen weighing down a branch at Hyland Orchard in Sturbridge as they hang from the tree Suhoski added that both the front locked since the building reopened in over the Columbus Day weekend. and rear entrance have foyers, August to comply with laws concerning which would help the building people with disabilities. maintain heat. “We can do it, the foyer will pre- “What we are doing with this Orchards affected by year’s wacky weather vent drafts,” he said. setup is encouraging people to walk Suhoski said the board has decid- down a street used by people coming ed to try for the variance and he and to Town Hall and it is the main BY M. CATHERINE BYSZEK all within about 10 miles from average. However, apples were STONEBRIDGE PRESS CORRESPONDENT Building Inspector David G. access for people who live in the one another and have experi- ready anywhere from one to Lindberg will be submitting the neighborhood back there,” he said. Many farms as well as enced similar weather condi- three weeks early, which also application to ABA. “That increases the chances of hav- orchards were affected by the tions this summer and fall. affected how long the season last- Chairman of the Board of ing a conflict between pedestrians unpredictable weather this year These orchards have stated ed. Normally, “pick your own Selectmen Thomas Creamer said and vehicles.” in central New England. that the dry spell, followed by a apples” lasts a couple of weeks opening the front door is a matter of Creamer said he would like to get Brookfield Orchards of North large amount of rain, affected longer, but due to the early crop, safety as well as convenience. He the issue resolved quickly and was Brookfield, Hyland Orchard of their crops minimally, and the pick your own was cut short. pointed out there is no sidewalk disappointed that the issue was not Sturbridge and Ragged Hill size of their apples was still from the front of the building to the raised during the planning stages of Turn To ORCHARDS A11 Orchard of West Brookfield are about average, if not larger than page rear and that people have to walk down a street to get to the back. Turn To DOORS page A11 Sturbridge sets next Master Plan public forum BY RICH HOSFORD Thursday,Nov.18. The forum is open Bubon said, that solicited ideas and nearing the finish line and wanted help, the town hired Vanasse VILLAGER STAFF WRITER to the public though space is limited areas of interest from the public to give everyone an update again.” Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) as the STURBRIDGE — An upcoming to the first 100 people who RSVP. that kick-started the process. Since that time the committee has contractor responsible for deliver- informational meeting will update Town Planner Jean Bubon said “The forum is meant to keep broken into sub-groups to focus on ing the Master Plan document and residents on progress with a plan to the meeting is meant to update resi- updated and give residents an various elements of the master for providing specific expertise. The steer the direction of the town. dents on the work of the committee, opportunity to give us some feed- plan, including economic develop- committee also sent a survey to all The Sturbridge Master Plan which began collecting information back and input,” Bubon said. ment, land use, natural, cultural and residents and businesses for feed- Steering Committee will hold a pub- and putting together recommenda- “Hopefully, because we listened to historic resources, housing, trans- back on what should be included in lic forum at the Publick House’s tions in August 2009. There was a people over the past year, our drafts portation, public services, energy the master plan and what priorities Paige Hall from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on similar forum held last November, are what they should be. We are and open space and recreation. To Turn To PLAN page A11 ALMANAC ..............2 LOCAL SPORTS POLICE LOGS ..........5 OPINION ..............10 HITCHCOCK X-COUTNRY OBITUARIES ..........13 ACADEMY CHAMPIONS SPORTS ..........14-15 PAGE 3 PAGE 12 INSIDE CALENDAR ...B SECT. 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, November 5, 2010 SOCIAL NETWORKING AS A VILLAGER ALMANAC JOB SEARCH TOOL OPEN TO CLOSE HOLLAND: 413-245-7108 t seems like nearly everyone join groups and post in discus- However, 70 percent of recruiters Mon – Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and is using Facebook, LinkedIn, sions. Building your network in and HR professionals say they 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Twitter as basic net- CAREER advance means that you will be have rejected a candidate for working tools — both for prepared if you suddenly lose information they found online. FISKDALE: 508-347-6486 I Weekdays 9:00-4:30 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 personal and professional rea- STRATEGIES your job or decide it’s time for a Inappropriate postings on a net- sons. Used professionally, online change. These online contacts working site can raise questions STURBRIDGE 508-347-6463 social media can advance your can help your job search with about your character, credibility Weekdays 8:30 – 5:00 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 career and enhance your JUDITH person-to-person communica- and basic common sense. While prospects of finding a job. tions, and can even help you get a your friends might get a kick out BRIMFIELD: 413-245-3451 SWANSON Weekdays: 9:00 – 4:30 and Sat.