Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. 3, No. 49 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM “Thinking is like loving and dying — each of us must do it for himself.” Friday, Dec 4, 2009 Charlton man charged in rape of child DA: BOY ATTACKED BY JC PENNEY WORKER IN STURBRIDGE BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL and battery on a child under and $250,000 surety bond, Court records indicate was working at JCPenney at NEWS STAFF WRITER 14, and another count of which the defendant’s attor- Barros-Gomes has been in the the time of the incident a lit- STURBRIDGE — A 26- forcible rape of a child after ney said he could not post. country for 10 months. He is, tle before 6 p.m. and allegedly year-old Charlton man was police said he sexually Snider also ordered a public according to Assistant committed the assault under being held on bail last week assaulted a young boy in the defender be assigned to him. District Attorney Shayne the guise of helping the boy on charges of sexually dressing room of the Route At the request of his attor- Picard, a Brazilian national try on clothes. Barros-Gomes, assaulting a minor at 131 discount store Tuesday ney, Leah Metro, Barros- and not a U.S. citizen. he said, was working in the JCPenney,one of three places night, Nov. 24. Gomes was held behind a bar- Immigration and Customs children’s department when where he worked, according Judge Neil Snider entered a rier, blocking him from view Enforcement (ICE) the boy’s mother stepped to the attorney representing not guilty plea on Barros- of spectators and the media. Spokesman Richard Rocha away to make a phone call, him court. Gomes’s behalf during his Metro said her client has no could not be reached for com- Picard said. Barros-Gomes Francisco Wellington arraignment Wednesday prior criminal record. ment last week about whether offered to help the boy, who Barros-Gomes, of 81 J. Davis morning at Dudley District Barros-Gomes is next Gomes is in this country police said was 13, try on Road, Charlton, faces a Court. Snider set Barros- scheduled to appear in court legally. Francisco Wellington charge of indecent assault Gomes’s bail at $25,000 cash on Dec. 17. Picard said Barros-Gomes Turn To ATTACK, page 11 Barros-Gomes Savings est. raises questions CRAVER: $85K SAVED WITH TH CLOSING BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — Town Administrator Robin L. Craver estimates that closing the Town Hall for two weeks will save about $84,771.14, but one selectmen is calling that figure into ques- tion. “We would save that anyway,” said Selectmen Vice Chairman Kathleen Walker, because of previously negotiated wage freezes. Her word’s come in response to recently released estimates of how much money the closing will save when it closes Monday, Dec. 21 and reopens Monday, Jan. 4. About $82,232 will be saved in union and non-union employees forgoing the wage increase they were scheduled to receive, according to Town Administrator Robin L. Craver. Exactly $20,329 will be saved from Clerical Union, Service Employees International Union Local 888 employees not receiving their raises, according to Craver. An additional $2,539.14 will be saved on electricity Shawn Kelley photos and oil, she said. Selectmen plan to study the cost savings as compared to the impact the clo- FESTIVE SPIRIT sure had on residents and town services, Selectmen Chairman Rick Swensen said. DUDLEY— Above, Rachel Eagleton, 14, of Dudley, carries a sign raising money for the Walker, however, said the labor money Shepherd Hill music department during the Festival of Crafts held Nov. 21 at Shepherd would have been saved anyway,because of the Hill High School. Below, Christine Porth of Hidden Acre Alpaca Farm spins Alpaca hair terms of a one-year wage freeze selectmen into yarn. For more photos, turn to page A8. negotiated earlier this year with several unions and non-union employees. Swensen did not disagree with his col- league. Turn To SAVINGS, page 11 Local food pantry ‘lucky’ with donations RESIDENTS COME TO AID OF AREA FOOD BANKS BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL increase in clients (households) well as students from the NEWS STAFF WRITER over last year, Charlton residents Charlton Middle School, accord- CHARLTON — Chip-In food have met the burgeoning need by ing to Rollins. Second Chance pantry has much to be thankful donating can after can of food, Animal Shelter in East for this holiday season. Its according to Rollins. In total, the Brookfield, although not based shelves are brimming with food. pantry serves 150 clients, she in town, has even started donat- “Charlton is very lucky. The said. ing dog food, she said. support has been … I cant “The more people we having “We have been trying to feed express it enough,” said coming … the more generous their animals too,” Rollins said. Executive Director Darlene people are in giving to the food “You’re pets are your family.” Emco Rollins. bank. The people in Charlton are The increase in donations, During a bad economy when Ryan Grannan-Doll photo really stepping up,” she said. Rollins said, is in response to res- one might think people have less Examples of that come from idents recognizing just how hard File photo Chip-In Executive Director Darlene to give to charity, the spirit of across the community. Sims some people are struggling to Emco Rollins looks over rows of Some questions are being raised as to whether the giving toward the food pantry is Premier Fitness on Route 20 held make ends meet. Rollins said she town is really saving money by closing Town Hall for shelves stacked with donated food for alive and well. With a 20-percent a food drive for the pantry, as the holidays. Turn To PANTRIES, page 11 two weeks during the holidays. TRIVIA Almanac ................. 2 Calendar ...............13 INJURED MAN RAMS BEAT FOG, Obituaries ............. 13 Real Estate ...B Section ON ROAD TO TANTASQUA IN This country supplies Police Logs .............. 5 Sports .............. 14-15 much of the world’s wool. RECOVERY TURKEY DAY GAME INDEX INDEX Opinion ................ 10 PAGE 4 PAGE 14 Answer inside 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, December 4, 2009 www.charltonvillager.com Celebration aims to light up town CHARLTON ALMANAC BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL THEY SAID IT STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — Christmas celebrants will “We would save that anyway.” have another way to warm themselves up dur- — SELECTMEN VICE CHAIRMAN KATHLEEN ing this year’s annual tree lighting ceremony. WALKER, ON ESTIMATED SAVINGS FROM A parade to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, CLOSING TOWN HALL FOR TWO WEEKS IN Dec. 6, two hours before the tree lighting cere- DECEMBER AND JANUARY. mony starts at 5 p.m. The parade steps off at Town Common and OPEN TO CLOSE ends at the Grange Hall on Main Street, where refreshments and other activities will be avail- TOWN HALL (508) 248-2200 able. Marching in the parade is open to any- Board of Selectmen (248-2206): Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays body, but participants should bring new and ...........................................7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. unwrapped toys, to be handed to U.S. Marines Tuesdays..............................7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall, according to American Fridays ............................... 7:30 a.m to 12 p.m. Legion Post 391 Sergeant-At-Arms Mike Town Clerk (248-2249): Zereski. His group is sponsoring the event. Monday to Thursday.............10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “You will feel a lot better by giving some- Fridays....................................................Closed thing,” Zereski said. First and Third Tuesday............5:30 to 7 p.m. Two hours later, the town’s annual tree PUBLIC LIBRARY (248-0452) lighting festivities will begin on the Common Mondays, Wednesdays.......9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Charlton Public Library. Choral Tuesdays, Thursdays .........9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, Sundays ..................................Closed performances by local singers will start at 5 Saturday...............................9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. p.m. at the library, where food and hot choco- POLICE DEPARTMENT (248-2250) late will also be available. Santa Claus will Monday to Friday................... 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. arrive in his sleigh at 6 p.m. according to For emergencies, dial 911 organizer Brent Sellew. FIRE DEPARTMENT (248-2299) “It was a packed house last year. Hopefully, Monday to Friday................... 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. we get that kind of response this year,” he POST OFFICES said. “I know a lot of people in town enjoy the Charlton Center Post Office......(800) 275-8777 Ryan Grannan-Doll photos lights. If we had some snow which fell during Charlton City (01508) ................ (800) 275-8777 SCHOOLS last year’s ceremonies], that would be nice.” Santa Claus arrives to a throng of young children waiting to say hello to him. during last year’s tree light- ing ceremony. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District The events have been weeks in the making. ......................................................(508) 943-6888 Sellew said he, Police Chief James A. Pervier, ing was fined five shillings. The Jamestown Charlton Elementary School Charlton firefighters, Boy Scouts and Cub settlement, where English refugees lived, how- ......................... (508) 248-7774 or (508) 248-7435 Scouts had all spent three days recently string- ever, celebrated the holiday. Heritage School ........................ (508) 248-4884 ing the lights on two trees. One tree, Sellew The American Revolution continued the Charlton Middle School.............(508) 248-1423 said, is dying and may not be available next lack of celebrations, according to the Web site.