Sturbridge 7-27-07
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. 3, No. 26 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET ‘To know a truth well, one must have fought it out.’ Friday, June 26, 2009 Recalculating Burgess cost STATE BUDGET COMPLICATES REIMBURSEMENT BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY submittal to MSBA,” Blanchard VILLAGER STAFF WRITER explained. STURBRIDGE — Previous cost While the physical features of the estimates have gone out the window proposed renovation/construction on the Burgess Elementary School plan have been determined, the building project. final schematic design and cost esti- At a public information session mate are not yet complete. last week, hosted by the Building Once the schematic is complete, it Committee, Vice Chairman, and for- will be submitted to MSBA for a mer Sturbridge Selectmen, Charles project funding offer, in which a cer- Blanchard explained that with tain percentage of cost reimburse- unrest among lawmakers in finaliz- ment will be offered by the state. ing the Massachusetts budget, Previous figures that were tossed comes uncertainty from the around, speculated the reimburse- Massachusetts School Building ment may be as high as 51 percent, Association (MSBA). but Blanchard cautioned that peo- “All the information were getting together now … is getting ready for Turn To SCHOOL, page A9 Charles Blanchard Gus Steeves photos Above, during the team lap, one participant marches as a ribbon representing cancer survival in general and gastrointestinal, pancreatic, testicular and thy- Police roid cancer specifically. Below, Honorary Survivor Robert Briere of Sturbridge doesn’t let the muddy conditions stop him. rifle program Slightly soggy suspended Relay shines CANCER FUNDRAISER NETS $176K NEED DEFENDED AS PATRICK BY GUS STEEVES $230,000, but she was pretty NEWS STAFF WRITER happy with the total, given the ORDERS REVIEW SOUTHBRIDGE — Despite a economy. lousy economy and threats of Moral support, however, is BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL bad weather, the 12th what drives most of the people STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Southbridge Area Relay for Life involved. This year, the cause They may run small-town went off without a hitch Friday got a lot of it from Southbridge departments, but area police and Saturday, June 19 an 20. High School students and alum- chiefs believe the high-powered “There seemed to be a revival ni, some of whom left in the mid- rifles they receive free of charge of the spirit of the people who 1970s. They provided the food from a Department of Defense were here. The people were so and wait service for the survivor (DOD) program, are an important enthusiastic,” said Donna dinner and breakfast, which component of emergency plan- Silverberg, a cancer survivor served roughly 300 people. ning. and organizer. “… When we got “What was so striking is that Gov. Deval L. Patrick suspend- here [the maintenance people] so many alumni came back,” ed the weapons program Tuesday, told us ‘We’ll have to charge you said Ann O’Connell, a retired June 16, pending a review of more for waterfront property’ English teacher/guidance coun- whether all departments obtain- because it was a lake.” selor who oversaw the effort. “… ing the rifles meet program rules As in previous years, the event It’s unbelievable, the work they and criteria. Towns that already was at McMahon Field, which did. Southbridge High alumni have the weapons in their police went from a rather soggy sports don’t forget the school.” arsenals will be able to keep stadium to a small tent city Unlike previous years, this them, according to state police Friday afternoon. Members of Relay actually cooked the meal officials. 48 teams occupied those tents, on the field, thanks to alumnus Sandlot memories Now, area chiefs are speaking hawking a variety of raffle Jose Peña, a Burlington hotel Shawn Kelley photo out about concerns that some goods, food, games and other food and beverage manager, and STURBRIDGE — Lauren Baker, 10, of Sturbridge, signs a baseball at the last small communities with little things to raise money for the a long list of volunteers, she game of the season to be given to the coach. See additional photos. Page A-6. crime may not need the high-pow- American Cancer Society’s said. Some of those volunteers research and education efforts. were just passersby. Turn To RIFLES, page A7 Around them walked a few thou- “I’m so thrilled so many of the sand people, many of them regu- alumni came back. They offered lars but not team members, tak- — we didn’t even ask,” ing ambling laps on the slightly O’Connell added. muddy track throughout the Like many of those present, The grazing gourment night. O’Connell urged people to do One of those walkers was some common-sense cancer pre- Serenity Allen of West ventive things, including not OPACUM HOSTS WILD EDIBLES TOUR Brookfield, who said, “I do this smoking, minimizing drinking, every year.” A cancer survivor wearing hats and sunscreen out- BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Cohen wrote the 2006 book “Wild herself, she started about 1997 as doors, and getting tested regu- VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Plants I Have Known… and part of one of the teams and larly. BROOKFIELD — Have you ever Eaten,” which identifies more used to stay overnight, but that “People say they don’t want a emerged from the couch, ener- than 100 edible plants that grow came to be impossible when she colonoscopy because they don’t gized by a fresh dose of excitement throughout New England. had children. want to drink ‘that stuff,’” she delivered by an episode of “Man “I grew up in Massachusetts,” “The support is awesome,” observed. “See what you have to vs. Wild” or “Survivorman,” and Cohen said, “and as a kid … I she said. When asked what peo- drink afterward.” wanted to test your own ability to would play in the woods and the ple could do to promote preven- Spencer’s Amy Perro, of the forage for meals in the wilds of streams after school.” tion, she added, “Stay active and Rosebuds team, agreed. To her, nature? That childhood fascination with support the cause, whether it’s the existence of mandatory If so, the latest program offered the outdoors prompted Cohen to morally or financially.” insurance in Massachusetts by the Opacum Land Trust is just register for an edible botany class Obviously,the latter is the eas- should encourage people to get for you. as a sophomore in high school, ier one to tally. Relay raised tested, and more testing would On Thursday, June 25, Opacum, where he learned about two-dozen $176,509 by the time the last tent “cut down on the cost” of med- Courtesy photo which stewards land in local plants and cooked an entire came down, and organizers pre- ical care. Russ Cohen will educate people on the Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland, meal using foraged items for his dicted more would come in over “So many people, once they dozens of edible plants that are found all Wales, Southbridge, Charlton, the final exam. the near future. Organizer Faye over New England, including wild strawber- Brookfields and more, is hosting “That was the spark that ignited Sweeney said the goal was Turn To RELAY, page A9 ries and burdock, left, a plant often thought an early evening Wild Edibles Turn To OPACUM, A9 of as nothing more than a nuisance. Hike, led by Russ Cohen. page ALMANAC ..............2 LOCAL POLICE LOGS ..........5 SPORTS VILLAGER TRIVIA OPINION ................8 BIKERS FOR UNDEFEATED! It is the capital of SPORTS...............14 GOOD CAUSE Germany. OBITUARIES ..........13 PAGE 14 PAGE 3 Answer inside. INSIDE BUSINESS ............15 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, June 26, 2009 Cell phones banned from selectmen’s meetings VILLAGER ALMANAC MOVE DONE TO BOOST TRANSPARENCY QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Boria quibbled with Walker’s needs saying it a meeting selectmen convened in one room and STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER is not necessary for her to check her calendar moved to another location. “There seemed to be a revival of CHARLTON — In a move to address Open during a meeting, because, he said, she can do The move represents another step selectmen the spirit of the people who Meeting Law concerns, selectmen have banned it afterward. have made toward addressing Open Meeting all cell phone use during their meetings. Brown said he has no problem with the poli- Law concerns since they incurred the viola- were here. The people were so “It is just another mechanism to, I guess, cy and brings his cell phone to meetings in case tions. Last year, a DA attorney held a well- enthusiastic.” have transparency and protect ourselves [from he receives an emergency call. attended seminar for town officials to learn the — Donna Silverberg, a cancer survivor Open Meeting violations],” said Selectman Selectmen Chairman Rick Swensen did not dynamics of the Open Meeting Law. An elec- and organizer of Relay for Life Scott D. Brown. “The intent not to use cell attend the meeting last week and could not be tronic block was placed on town—issued cell phones during the meeting to communicate.” reached for comment later. phones earlier this year to ensure users do not OPEN TO CLOSE All forms of cell phone communication, The Worcester County District Attorney’s text message each other during business including sending text messages, e-mail and office indirectly lauded the ban while avoiding hours. Police Chief James A. Pervier and Fire HOLLAND: 413-245-7108 other methods would be barred under the poli- specific support for it. Chief Charles E. Cloutier are exempt from the Mon – Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.