• LOCAL NEWS LOCAL STORIES LOCAL ADVERTISERS • E WARE REGION FOR 1 ING TH 29 YE SERV ARS Vol. 134 No. 48 12 Pages (Plus Supplements) USPS 666100 $31 PER YEAR - $1.00 A COPY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 www.warerivernews.turley.com A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com Remote Car business requests school special permit about 125 residents who were decision Board allows against the project and 70 indi- OOK HEAD O 60 days for vidual letters from residents A L A T against the project. Some of the ahead detailed plans abutters have hired a lawyer to represent them during the pro- By Eileen Kennedy cess, he said. Ware’s positivity Staff writer BHT attorney Mark Bobrowski said about 40 acres rate continues WARREN – BHT Properties of the 145-acre parcel would to rise Group, described as a national be used for the parking lot that company, would store cars, which would By Eileen Kennedy went before be more than 1,500 feet from Staff writer A little bit of normal wanted the Planning the road. There would be an area Board at the entrance to the property Monday where cars would arrive by flat- WARE – The School By Eileen Kennedy don’t have a crystal ball.” He is she said, hoping this year will Committee discussed whether night to bed tow truck, be inspected and Staff writer hopeful the vaccines will kick allow a little more of those request a then moved by truck to the park- to decide on a trigger that would in and allow school to reopen at events, but it remains to be seen lead the school district to move special per- ing lot for storage until they are f area officials are any judge, least for the fall. if that will be possible. mit to run sold. There will be roughly 100 from a hybrid schedule of two they and local residents “I will be glad to be done “I want to be able to see a in-person days and three remote a salvage cars per acre, he said. would like to see some nor- with 2020 and maybe we can smile again, but sharing the air learning days to full remote I car busi- malcy back in everyone’s lives in get back to some kind of nor- is not what needs to happen right learning for all students. ness at 727 2021. After all, 2020 was a year malcy for families and students now,” she said. While she can Would not hire CoPart After discussing what such Turley Publications Brimfield BHT would own and develop filled with the COVID-19 pan- and teachers,” said Ware School tell students and staff are smiling Zoom image a trigger might be, the mem- Road. After the property, according to Ram demic and its effects on almost Ram Adar, an bers were leaning toward two Superintendent Dr. Marlene by their eyes these days, since hearing a Adar, one of the company’s exec- every area of life including DiLeo. they are all wearing masks, she owner of BHT weeks of Ware’s positivity rate Properties Group. presenta- utives, but would hire another being at a 5%. A community is businesses, school and socializ- She said she is concerned looks forward to seeing their full tion from company to run it. In other places considered red by the state if its ing. But they see hope this year about detecting and addressing smiles. the company’s lawyer, asking it has hired CoPart, a national car positivity rate is 5% or above. with the approval of two differ- learning gaps that might appear She is looking forward to the questions of a company execu- salvage and auction company, but The members decided to think ent COVID-19 vaccines, and from hybrid and remote learning, vaccines being available in the tive and board members bringing Adar said it would not be using about it until their next meeting they look forward to life slowly and also the normal events and spring, and the possibility of a up concerns, the board continued that company for its Warren facil- on Jan. 6, when they will discuss approaching normal this year. socialization students are miss- normal graduation that isn’t in the hearing until March 8. At that ity. CoPart already has a property it again and likely vote on what “I’m hoping at some point ing out on. She pointed to the the middle of the football field time, the company will be expect- at 600 Old West Warren Road in the trigger to go to full remote in the coming year students junior prom that couldn’t be held with each student separated from ed to present detailed engineering West Warren. learning will actually be. will be in school,” said Ware last year and the uncertainty if it each other. “That’s the hope, that plans, including those for storm- When asked by Planning Ware remains yellow, and at School Committee Chairman will be held this year, along with these vaccines may allow us do water management systems. Board member Ed Londergan the time of the meeting on Dec. Christopher Desjardins.”I would changed graduations. what we normally do,” she said. Planning Board member 23, Ware’s positivity rate was love to see students back before “These are rites of passage Richard Eichacker said the town 4.17%. As of Dec. 24, Ware’s the end of school this year but I they should be taking part in,” Please see 2021, page 3 had received a petition signed by Please see SPECIAL, page 3 positivity rate was 4.81%, based on the numbers from Dec. 6 to Dec. 22. The rate per 100,000 was 24.6 at the time of the meeting, which is on the high side, according to School Board hears about West New Braintree Superintendent Dr. Marlene DiLeo. It has risen to 30.2 as of man charged Dec. 24, according to the lat- Brookfield and Barre EMS est COVID numbers released by By Paula Ouimette increase the cost of the service Health Director Judy Metcalf with armed Staff writer to $133,000 a year. Ware said and the state. that is the true cost of the ser- At a previous School home invasion HARDWICK — Board of vice. Ware also receives over Committee meeting, Metcalf Selectmen Chairman Kenan $90,000 in health care insurance said it might be necessary to GILBERTVILLE – A 41-year- Young opened the board’s meet- reimbursements for Hardwick go remote after the Christmas old New Braintree man was ing and turned it over to Board patients. holidays if the rates sees a rise arrested and charged with home of Selectmen member Julie Quink introduced Dan in town the way they did after invasion after he used a gun on Quink to go over any updates McCall, President of the West Thanksgiving, when more fami- an 81-year-old resident to enter to potential emergency medical Brookfield Rescue Squad. lies and friends got together for a home on Church Street the day services. McCall provided the board with the holiday. after Christmas. Hardwick is looking for ambulance response times to “How do we determine the On Saturday, Dec. 26, around alternatives after Ware, which various locations in Hardwick. best way to go about this?” 2:30 p.m., Hardwick/New charged them $77,000 for fis- Braintree Police were advised Please see SCHOOL, page 8 cal 2021, said it would probably Please see HARDWICK, page 9 an armed home invasion that had just occurred. Officers respond- ed to an address on Church Street in Hardwick’s Gilbertville sec- tion where it was reported that an 81-year-old male party was the vic- Decorating contest a great success tim of armed home invasion. A male party knocked on the Will return next year door, when the victim answered the door, the male party alleged- By Eileen Kennedy ly forced the resident back Staff writer into his residence at gunpoint, and took cash from the res- WARREN – About 100 res- ident. The suspect fled the resi- idents, including the four class- dence and the Hardwick/New es at Quaboag Regional Middle Braintree police were notified. High School, competed for brag- During the police investigation, ging rights in Warren Parks and a possible suspect was identified. Staff photo Recreation Commission’s Light Up While obtaining that information, the Night decorating contest. Paxton Police Department made “People really enjoyed it,” said a motor vehicle stop and the sus- PARKER STREET BUILDING Parks Commissioner Sue Ramsey. pect was arrested on an outstand- “It was a lot of fun.” ing arrest warrant from Worcester BURNS TUESDAY MORNING She said residents embraced the District Court. WARE – Firefighters responded to a fire at 8 Parker St. Tuesday chance to decorate their homes and Timothy Flores, of Old Wine to drive through town checking out morning around 9 a.m., when fire and smoke was reported on the Road, New Braintree, was charged third floor of the multi-family building. It is unclear what caused all the homes. About 200 voted on with home invasion, armed assault the fire, although it appeared no one in the building was trapped The house at 239 Coy Hill Road won the most traditional display in or injured. Warren and Palmer provided mutual aid and firefighters the Warren Park and Recreation Commission’s Light Up the Night were still fighting a fire on the roof at 9:40 a.m. The third floor Please see CONTEST, page 5 Christmas decorating contest.