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Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. IV, No. 44 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, August 19, 2011 Selectmen hold off on second field vote UXBRIDGE RESIDENTS GIVEN TWO CHANCES TO SPEAK ON PROPOSAL BY ADAM T. SILVA 855 Tuesday, July 12, with only 11 percent of full amount is $7.3 million with borrowing and what we can do away with,” Desilets said TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER registered voters stopping by Uxbridge High charges and interest over a 20-year period. on the future of the project. “We’re going to UXBRIDGE — Tempers were raised in oppo- School to cast their ballots. At the Aug. 10 meeting, a mixture of citizens try to get the price down to where we can sition to bringing the $5 million athletic fields Each citizen was allowed three minutes to for and against spoke before the board. Those afford it.” for the new high school back to the ballot at speak and 20 minutes overall was allowed for who did not speak at Monday’s meeting were the Aug. 8 Board of Selectmen meeting. the citizen’s forum, as Chairman Bruce allowed to speak first at Citizen’s Forum, Reps and licenses More than half a dozen residents, all in Desilets noted that Aug. 10 would be the appro- which was limited to 20 minutes. In other business at the Aug. 8 meeting: opposition, with notepads in hand, readily priate time to discuss the matter in full. No decision was made on bringing back the • Jay Cahill from the Board of Selectmen gave the board a piece of their mind for set- “The decision can be put back on the ballot field addition to the ballot, or at what cost. The and Joe Leonardo from the Planning Board ting up a meeting to discuss the possibility of within 37 days of the board deciding on it,” only decision made at the meeting was to dis- were named to the Central Massachusetts bringing back the vote for the athletic fields said Town Manager Michael Szlosek. cuss it at the joint School Building Regional Planning Commission. An alternate on Wednesday, August 10. The amount for the sports complex isn’t Committee/Board of Selectmen gathering The vote to add the sports complex to the exactly what it appears. While the amount Aug. 17. new high school was soundly defeated 1,143 to necessary to build the project is $5 million, the “We’re going to look at what we can keep Turn To FIELD VOTE, page 11 Changes now and in future at DHS SENIOR CLASS GROWS, SCHOOL PROJECT PROCEEDS BY ADAM T. SILVA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER DOUGLAS — Douglas High School is on a steady path of change. With last year being the first with a gradu- ating class of more than 100, this coming year it will expect close to 120. “We have experienced a growth, which is partially due to the town approving the build- ing project to happen within the next couple of years,” said Principal Kevin Maines. “We will be adding a middle school and the goal of that, which should be done in December of 2013 if there are no setbacks, will have us be a school of only Grades 9 through 12.” WILD, WILD LIFE Keeping Grades 6, 7 and 8 together, accord- ing to Maines, is a much better combination than 8 through 12, which is done strictly due to space. “I really give credit to the town for making that kind of commitment to us in this tough economic climate,” he said. “One thing that Turn To DHS, page 11 Adam T. Silva photos NORTHBRIDGE — Tim Cornwall and Becky Suzenski from Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon visited the Whitinsville Sutton works Social Library Thursday,Aug. 11 for a demonstration featuring nine different baby animals. to revise its Above: While it may not seem like it, this is a baby tortoise. master plan Left: A three banded armadillo after it opens up. MEETINGS PLANNED FOR Right: Suzenski holds a red kanga- THE FALL FOR PUBLIC INPUT roo. BY ADAM T. SILVA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER For more photos, please turn to SUTTON — Out with the old, in with the Page 5. new. After nearly 20 years with its old master plan, the Town of Sutton is moving forward on an updated version, which should be released in the spring. “Every town is charged by law under Chapter 41 of Massachusetts General Law to have a master plan that gives a general frame- work of how development will occur, what the Planning for a bigger, better Octoberfest town will do with public facilities, natural resource protection, economic development and all of the big issues,” said Sutton ANNUAL EVENT GETS NEW STAGE, MORE VENDORS Planning Director Jennifer Hager. “A Planning Board established in any city or BY ADAM T. SILVA this year. Octoberfest off the ground.” town shall make a master plan, which is a TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Any Douglas resident, regardless of their Because of the success of 2010, they not statement through text, maps, illustrations or DOUGLAS — The Douglas Octoberfest cele- high school, is eligible for the non-renewable only are able to award a scholarship, but also other forms of consideration that is designed bration will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1 on scholarship, which must be used for books or 2011 will be the first year where they will be to provide a basis for decision making regard- Main Street, and there is plenty of time left for tuition to any accredited institution of higher going without any financial aid from the ing the long-term physical development of the vendors and others who want to become learning. town. municipality. The plan shall be internally involved. “It’s been a yearly event in Douglas for some In years past, the town awarded Octoberfest consistent in its policies, forecasts and stan- Recently, organizers have found a way to time now and has been mainly spearheaded with roughly $1,000 for police details at the dards and shall include the following ele- give back and go beyond just the celebration. by Tony and Mary St. Pierre,” said volunteer event. ments: a goal section, land use plan and hous- Each year, a certain amount of seed money Keith Menard. “I got involved with the enter- “We figured with all of the other budgetary ing, among others. It is basically a grand idea is set aside. With the great success of 2009’s tainment aspect of it three years ago after festival, they were able to offer a $500 scholar- being recruited by David St. George, who is ship last year. They will continue to offer one another person responsible for getting Turn To OCTOBERFEST, page 11 Turn To MASTER PLAN, page 11 A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A8 ....................... OBITUARIES A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A9 ....................... SENIOR SCENE CONTACT THE TRIBUNE EDITOR AT A6 ........................... CALENDAR A12 .............................. SPORTS AMINOR STONEBRIDGEPRESS COM INSIDE @ . 2 • Friday, August 19, 2011 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Movin’ and groovin’: Senior Center adapts to changing times BY ADAM T. SILVA also offer chair yoga, where seniors will not overflow of Baby Boomer TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER need to leave their seats to participate in the seniors for a while,” said DOUGLAS — With economic downtimes exercise. The instructors are also seniors, who Rousseau. “It’s also different and changes in quality of life for seniors and receive property tax credits by teaching what goes on here. We had a soon-to-be seniors, the Douglas Senior Center through the Senior Tax Workoff program. bunch of computers here is constantly changing and trying to prepare The definition of senior is changing, that our younger seniors for the upcoming onslaught of Baby Boomers according to Graveson and Outreach used and more of them are becoming seniors. Coordinator Patrice Rousseau. Not too many having them in their homes. “We are open Monday through Thursday 9 years back, 60 or 62 meant becoming a senior Having Tommy Rull here is a.m. to 2 p.m., which really seems to be our key citizen, and the vast majority of people retired a great draw because he isn’t hours,” said Senior Center Director Alyssa around the age of 65. singing ’30s and ’40s music, Graveson. “We have weekly programs, like Because of the tough economic climate and which is from a lot of these our exercise program and our crochet group. the higher quality of life at older ages, more people’s parents’ genera- The Douglas Cultural Council paid for and more people are retiring later. Another tion.” Tommy Rull to provide some entertainment. reason for the prolonged retirement, accord- While the center offers They applied for and received a grant. They ing to Graveson, is to keep insurance benefits classes on Medicare, it’s not try to pick people from our recommendations longer. that easy getting people to because if it’s someone who isn’t attracting “Most of the people on the edge of retire- come in for those classes. anyone to come here, it’s not worth it.” ment are still working,” said Rousseau. “We Many, according to Their schedule for the next two weeks will are supposed to serve anyone disabled or over Graveson, inquire about be as follows: Monday, Aug. 22 and 29 and the age of 60, but if you’re 68 and you’re com- changes in Medicare after Wednesday Aug. 24 and 31, osteo stress exer- ing in here, it’s because you have an issue with the meetings or more impor- cise will be held from 10 a.m.

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