Free by request to residents of Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, February 12, 2021 Camden Partners could consider PACE program for Stevens Mill BY JASON BLEAU CORRESPONDENT DUDLEY – The Jan. 19 meeting of the Dudley Economic Development Committee provided a minor update on the ongoing project at the historic Stevens Mill. The aged Dudley landmark is slated to be trans- formed into apartments and mixed-use space thanks to a partnership between the town and Camden Partners. Dudley Acting Town Planner Bill Scanlon said Camden Partners has maintained the status quo with little progress being made on the site, but a new poten- Donald E. Perkins — Courtesy tial energy saving opportunity being explored behind the scenes. “We did discuss with them the PACE Program CLEANING UP which is an energy conservation program run by Massachusetts Development. It requires the town to The Webster Highway Department is pictured here at work after a Nor’easter dumped 14 or more inches to the area. opt in to make them eligible for that program. It’s a Thanks to the new equipment our town has invested in to keep us safe for Emergency vehicles to pass on our roads. way to finance energy improvements which will be a major component of their project,” Scanlon said. If Camden Partners decided to go this route, the funds they would borrow would be recaptured through the town assessment to betterment on the property in the tax bills. While it appears this program has Oxford introduces new health director been the bulk of the recent discussions taking place surrounding the project, Scanlon stressed it is simply BY GUS STEEVES pull together a vaccina- ning at Southbridge’s nationwide do, she said. under consideration and not a guaranteed move on CORRESPONDENT tion program. Community Center Novak said she’s devel- Camden Partners’ part, and hasn’t even gone before OXFORD – the town’s “It has been quite the (aka the Armory) since oping a vaccine clinic selectmen yet. new public health direc- undertaking the last cou- mid-December and is with Webster at a site “It does have a town involvement. I’m not sure yet tor has already dived into ple of weeks,” Allison looking to open at least “just over the border,” Turn To MILL page A15 the Covid mess, trying to Novak told selectmen one more in Webster. which was slated to have Feb. 2, during her intro- Residents need to sched- its first day of shot-giving duction to the town. She ule with their own town late last week. Her plan was hired earlier this – typically, either the was to shuttle seniors year and started two health department or from the Oxford Senior Shepherd Hill Global weeks previously. their senior center – and Center if they don’t have At present, the issue the state rules for the their own transporta- is that “not many health process require vari- tion. Going forward, she departments have vac- ous details including an hopes to have several Studies trip postponed again cine available to them,” email address, insurance future clinic dates, possi- but she said she expects card number and birth- bly including at least one BY JASON BLEAU of Shepherd Hill students vaccines, the rollout of that the change as the date, among others. weekend-long clinic to CORRESPONDENT which is why these trips those vaccines has been number of sites increas- So far, many people vaccinate as many people overseas are so import- slower than anticipated es. Those that do are have reported issues as possible. DUDLEY/CHARLTON ant. Sadly, though the and the establishment generally giving the with the state’s online In Southbridge, the – Shepherd Hill Regional pandemic has caused of that heard immunity shots without trouble, system, which prompted Armory site has been High Schools students many countries to keep that would signal a begin- although there have been Selectman John Saad to giving both Pfizer and will have to wait a lit- their borders closed and ning of more or less nor- some reports of issues say he’s spoken to several Moderna vaccines on tle longer to explore the thus made travel either mal has been delayed. with quantity and stor- people who “emphasize various days. Both are world beyond the United impossible or extremely This problem doesn’t age nationally. the frustration they’re two-dose vaccines, mean- States. Due to the ongo- complicated requiring exist just in the U.S., it At present, the vac- having.” Among other ing recipients are being ing COVID-19 pandemic, quarantines and COVID exists all over the world. cine is not yet available issues, people can’t get carefully scheduled to the Global Studies trip to testing both upon arrival The European Union to the general public. through by phone, or find make sure they get the Europe has once again and return to the United has closed its borders According to the state’s there’s “nothing avail- right one the second time been postponed after States. to most countries. They Covid timeline, we’ve able.” The bigger vac- approximately 21 days being put on hold in early “Last March, the trips are also distributing the just begun Phase 2, with cination sites are often later. Recent reports indi- 2020 as the COVID-19 pan- to Eastern Europe were vaccine, but according people age 75 and older fully booked for several cate a new Johnson & demic first began to take cancelled and many of to what I’ve read there now eligible, while peo- upcoming weeks. Johnson vaccine is slat- its toll on the national those students moved to is less availability, and ple 65 and older and/or Acknowledging that ed to go before the FDA stage. the 2021 trip. I certainly they might not be able with two or more of a cer- there’s “tons of angst,” review panel Feb 26 to Mary Pierangeli, who never thought that a year to immunize as quickly tain list of medical condi- especially among seniors, determine whether it is coordinating the trip, later we would be dealing as we are in the United tions are next in line. Novak said she expects warrants “emergency use said at a January meet- with the same problem. States,” Pierangeli said. In our area, most towns more appointments will authorization.” The one- ing of the Regional School However, the pandemic She also noted the rise are funneling their vac- become available as more dose Oxford-AstraZeneca Committee that she is not showing any sign in a new COVID variant cine requests through sites open and pharma- vaccine, which is already believes international of slowing down at the in the United Kingdom Harrington Hospital’s cies begin carrying the widely in use in Europe, and global awareness is present time. Although system, which has had vaccines. Right now, Turn To TRIP page A10 essential to the education we have two approved a vaccination site run- just two percent of them Turn To DIRECTOR page A10 Oxford NJROTC defeats Loveland AJROTC OXFORD — Shooting King, Danika Eisentraut, and junior rifle clubs their highest score and Faith Atteberry. throughout the United of the season, Oxford Loveland AJROTC States. Over 10 weeks Navy JROTC defeated is from Loveland, each team competes in Loveland AJROTC 827.7 CO, and is coached seven games. Each week, to 641.4 in the National by Harold Johnson. each team is paired Air Rifle New Shooter with another team with League. With the win, Next up, Oxford NJROTC a near equal skill level. Oxford NJROTC is in will compete against Fork twenty-first place overall. Union Military Academy In each game, the teams They currently have a 1 - from Fork Union, Va. compete in what is known 1 record. Oxford NJROTC Fork Union Military as a Three-Position Air was led by, Reese Academy currently Rifle match. The match Reynolds who shot a has a 0 - 2 record. While is modeled after Olympic 233.1. The remaining con- Loveland AJROTC will Rifle competitions but tributing members were compete against Gallatin adapted to high school Joshua Austin, Angelica NJROTC from Gallatin, age athletes. Each athlete Kopec, and Julian Tenn. Gallatin NJROTC will shoots 10 shots in Pabon. Oxford NJROTC currently has a 0 - 2 record. three different shooting is coached by Ed Kay. positions, prone, stand- These two teams are com- ing, and kneeling. Each Loveland AJROTC cur- peting in the National shot is worth a maximum rently has a 0 - 1 record. Air Rifle “New Shooter” of 10.9 points. The sum Shooting their highest League. Sponsored by the of points scored in the team score of the season Orion Scoring System, 30 shots is the athlete’s Loveland AJROTC was the league is a national total. The team score is Courtesy led by, William Fritz team league exclusive to comprised of the best four who shot a 251.3. The athletes in their first year athletes from each team. Shooting their highest score of the season, Oxford Navy JROTC defeated Loveland AJROTC remaining contribut- of competition. Teams 827.7 to 641.4 in the National Air Rifle New Shooter League. ing members were Evee are from high schools 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, February 12, 2021 www.StonebridgePress.com Juggler Bryson Lang kicks off Catholic Schools Week at St. Joseph School WEBSTER — On the entire school. And the school to stream his Sunday, Jan. 31, St. they did not disappoint! performance so students Joseph School began its On Thursday morning, at home could also par- 2021 Catholic Schools St.