3 Oxbow Road, Charlton (RT. 20 Richardson Corners) OXBOW VARIETY & PACKAGE STORE 508-248-4969 ABSOLUT VODKA CAPTAIN MORGAN BUD LIGHT,BUDWEISER SMIRNOFF VODKA SVEDKA VODKA 1.75ml 1.75ml 1.75ml 1.75ml COORS LIGHT, MILLER LITE All Flavors 30pk cans+ deposit (cash only) $ $33.99 $29.99 22.99 $20.99 $19.99 Hours: Mon-Sat 8-10 • Sun 9-9 (prices expire 12/31/11) Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. V, No. 46 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET Friday, November 18, 2011 Vets collection to honor fallen soldier NAMES BEING COLLECTED FOR VETERANS PLAQUES BY KEVIN FLANDERS VILLAGER STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — For Sturbridge veterans and their family members, Veterans Day provides an opportu- nity to honor those who served and are currently serving their country. Each person observes the day in a different way,but they are all united by a common bond. Debra Booth has made several extra efforts to assist veterans, and for the second consecutive year she will collect clothes and other donat- Joshua Booth ed items before distributing them to homeless veterans at local shelters. made the holidays particularly spe- It is especially rewarding for Booth cial for me.” to provide assistance to homeless Booth is looking to collect such veterans, as her son, United States items as gift certificates, toiletries, Store spooks in Marine Corps First Lt. Joshua clothing, games, and cleaning sup- Booth, was killed in Hadithah, Iraq plies. If you would like to make a in October of 2006. donation, send an e-mail to “Last year, I did not simply drop [email protected]. the donations off at the shelter — I Booth is also a member of the Sturbridge set all of the items out for the veter- committee that is raising money for ans to choose what they wanted, the rebuilding of the Veterans what size fit them, and what color Honor Roll outside Town Hall. The they liked,” Booth said. “The smiles on their faces warmed my heart and Turn To VETERAN page A7 Kevin Flanders photos STURBRIDGE — About 200 kids collected candy at the Sturbridge Old Navy on Saturday, Nov. 12, as store manager Don Gorczynski and his staff organized an event for kids to show off their cos- tumes and walk through a makeshift haunted The ringing of the bells house in the store’s dressing room area. Above, Paige Connery, 9, of Monson, poses with Kosak and Andrews. SALVATION ARMY Right, Morgan, 5, of Sturbridge, buzzed through- STARTING ANNUAL out the store in search of candy. HOLIDAY DRIVE For more photos, turn to page A8! BY KEVIN FLANDERS VILLAGER STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — The bells are about to be ringing outside area stores, as the Salvation Army’s Kettle Drive will begin on Friday, Town meeting delay irks residents Nov. 11, and last through the end of the year. BY KEVIN FLANDERS Chairman Kevin Smith seconded Creamer’s Bell ringers will be stationed out- VILLAGER STAFF WRITER motion. side the following stores in STURBRIDGE — Voters supported a “The motion was intended to allow resi- Sturbridge: Shaw’s, JC Penney, Stop motion on Monday, Nov. 7, to postpone the dents some time to recover — emotionally and Shop, Wal-Mart, and Yankee Courtesy photo Spirits. Stuart Rankin, who is coor- special town meeting to Monday, Dec. 5, a and physically — from the snowstorm, Volunteers are still needed for this year’s dinating this year’s Kettle Drive in decision that upset a few residents who which left many without power for eight Salvation Army Kettle Drive. In this Sturbridge, said he is hoping a came to Tantasqua Regional High School days,” Creamer said on Tuesday. “To that photo, a bell ringer collects money in Southbridge business will also take ready to cast their votes. end, many residents were just yesterday Sturbridge as part of the 2010 initiative. The motion to adjourn the meeting was returning home, having departed to stay part in the initiative. made by Board of Selectmen Chairman elsewhere during the power outage.” “One of the goals of the Salvation Thomas Creamer after the board expressed Selectmen might add an article to the Dec. Army is for a good portion of the not just dropping it into the great its unanimous support of the motion due to 5 Special Town Meeting warrant that money that is raised locally to be unknown. Their generosity is help- the destructive Oct. 29 snowstorm that left involves the financial impact of the snow- given back to the community,” ing to meet the needs in the commu- much of the town without electricity for Rankin said. “When someone puts a nity.” Thomas Creamer dollar bill into the kettle, they are several days. Finance Committee Turn To MEETING page A7 Turn To SALVATION page A7 A helping hand in the midst of the storm COMMUNITY UNITES TO HELP FAMILY AFTER HOUSE FIRE BY KEVIN FLANDERS AND ADAM T. England. Although sections of the p.m. on Oct. 30. Chabot said they SILVA exterior structure of the house were woke up around midnight after a STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITERS determined to not have been totally smoke alarm sounded, and the STURBRIDGE — Tammy Chabot compromised, most of the contents house was quickly filling with has participated in countless efforts inside — including toys, clothing, smoke. Because the power was still to assist people in need. food, books, and several items of out, it was difficult for them to Now it is the community’s turn to considerable sentimental value — ascertain where the smoke was rally together and return the favor. were ruined. coming from. Chabot’s 59 Clark Road house was Chabot and her husband, Chris, By the time members of the Adam T. Silva photo destroyed by a fire last Sunday, Oct. as well as their two children, were Sturbridge Fire Department extin- The Chabot family’s 59 Clarke Road home was destroyed from the inside by a fire on 30, just one day after the massive not injured during the fire, which guished the blaze, most of the items Oct. 30. Soon thereafter, a fund was set up to assist the family. snowstorm paralyzed much of New started after they went to sleep at 10 Turn To FAMILY page A7 ALMANAC.........................2 LOCAL SPORTS POLICE LOGS ....................9 OBITUARIES ....................11 MEMORIAL BASKETBALL TANTASQUA SOCCER CLUBS OPINION.........................10 TOURNEY TO BENEFIT ENJOY SUCCESSFUL, DONNELLY SCHOLARSHIP DISTRICT BOUND SEASONS CALENDAR......................11 INSIDE SPORTS .........................14 PAGE 3 PAGE 14 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, November 18, 2011 Towns renew focus on emergency preparedness BY KEVIN FLANDERS “My sister has a generator and our the need for individuals, families, dents a better idea of which of their definitely stock up on groceries, gas, VILLAGER STAFF WRITER family was thinking about going to and neighborhoods to take responsi- neighbors possesses certain vital and batteries next time I hear a With many area towns having her house, but luckily the lights bility for preparedness,” said Ric supplies and also informs them of major snowstorm is coming. I could- experienced a harsh winter last year, came back on,” said Rita Flores, of Skinner, of Sturbridge, who recently who could perform specific services n’t find a gas station if my life a tornado, a tropical storm, and a Southbridge, who lost power for less provided residents of his town with during an emergency. Skinner will depended on it during this storm. freak autumn snowstorm, residents than two days and was already get- information about the Map Your continue to promote the program, Many of them were open, but their are starting to take emergency pre- ting sick of wearing sweatshirts to Neighborhood program. “The recent although inclement weather events tanks were empty.” paredness a lot more seriously. bed. natural disasters this year clearly like the October snowstorm are per- According to Skinner, eight Those who don’t already own a Thousands of other residents underscore the importance of this. haps the most effective reminders of Sturbridge residents who attended generator are certainly thinking weren’t so lucky. Through programs like Map Your the need for emergency prepared- his recent informational session are about buying one after it took nearly Nearly the entire town of Holland Neighborhood, residents will be ness. ready to take the next step toward a week for electricity to be restored was without power five days after the exposed to excellent preparedness “Everyone should be prepared to familiarizing themselves with the in many locations. Even residents storm, and it took National Grid information and guidelines — and be totally self-sufficient for at least Map Your Neighborhood program. like Tracy Smith, of Sturbridge, who crews almost a week to get most of equally important — they will be seven days during which time they By taking a Train-the-Trainer only lost power for two days, are con- the lights back on in Sturbridge. organized and supported by neigh- should not expect to see snow plows, course, they will understand the templating bringing a generator into While officials from those towns con- bors so what seems like a daunting utility crews, fire, police, or EMS process of helping their neighbor- the fold. tinue searching for answers from task of preparedness seems less unless there is a life-threatening situ- hoods become better prepared for “We have discussed buying a gen- National Grid, the people responsible daunting when others are involved.” ation,” added Skinner. emergencies. erator and trying to work it into our for maintaining public safety are Skinner is currently working with “You can only wonder what will hit For more information about emer- budget,” Smith said.