Central Mass. Idol’ Rocks Mechanics Hall
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. II, No. xx Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM “We can’t plan life. All we can do is be available for it.” Friday, December 17, 2010 ‘Central Mass. Idol’ rocks Mechanics Hall UHS’ FEELEY TAKES SECOND PLACE BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Claremont Academy, Morgan Dzicek and Amy TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Snitchler, of Whitinsville Christian School, Heather WORCESTER — Elyeen Vazquez, a student at Dupont and Ryan Monahan, from Leicester High South High in Worcester, was named this year’s School, Rachel Driscoll and Courtney Hale from “Central Mass. Idol” at the fourth annual installment Northbridge High School, Megan Elsier and Ashley of the countywide talent competition last week. Esper, of Grafton High School, Mary Oluokun and The “Central Mass. Idol” competition, a charitable Elyeen Vazquez, representing the South High Tri-M fundraiser put on by the Uxbridge High School Chapter, and Katherine Shaw and Erin Sullivan, of Student Council in conjunction with First Night Oxford High School. Worcester, was held Thursday, Dec. 9 at Mechanics While all performances were noteworthy — espe- Hall in downtown Worcester. cially in Mechanics Hall’s acoustically brilliant ball- “The first two years UHS hosted the event on its room — it was the voices of the women from South own,” explained Principal Tara Bennett. “After the High that took center stage, taking two of the top second year, First Night Worcester approached UHS three spots in the competition. with a partnership opportunity. Mechanics Hall has First place went to Vazquez following a show-stop- been very gracious with their support of the event.” ping rendition of a Christina Aguilera song in the Seventeen students from at least nine different final round. schools performed, showcasing some of the premier Second place went to Uxbridge’s Tara Feeley for a youth vocal talent in the region. soundtrack-quality rendition of a song from the Each participating school was eligible to submit motion picture “Beauty and the Beast.” Christopher Tanguay photo two students into the competition. Third place was given to South High’s Mary First place winner Elyeen Vazquez and third place winner Mary Oluokun embrace as sec- The contestants were Harley Bison and Tara Feeley, Oluokun for the only a capella performance of the ond place winner Tara Feeley, of Uxbridge, looks on after the top three singers were of Uxbridge High School, Tyler Borton and Emma Turn To IDOL, A13 announced. Noyes, of Bromfield High School, Adukei Brown, of page Police warn JAZZY REINDEER Northbridge about crime, to stay with holiday one tax rate scams for FY 2011 WILL RISE TO $11.71 COMMON SENSE KEY BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER NORTHBRIDGE — Selectmen chose to REGION — With only a week left before maintain a uniform tax rate last week after Christmas, shoppers everywhere are in over- hearing the three options before the town for drive trying to come up with the best gifts for the fiscal year 2011 classification. their loved ones and friends. Principal Assessor Robert Fitzgerald In all that hustle, bustle and holiday spirit, explained the three options at a tax classifica- however, consumers can often let their guard tion hearing Monday, Dec. 6 that resulted in down, making them prime targets for scam- no action by the board — or no change to the mers just waiting to prey on people with town’s current tax classification. money in their pockets and giving on the For fiscal year 2010, the tax rate in brain. Northbridge is $10.40, though, as would be Millbury Police Chief Richard Handfield expected, Fitzgerald said that figure would go said his department doesn’t receive too many up in the next year. reports of identity theft occurring at the mas- “The tax rate is projected to increase to sive Shoppes at Blackstone Valley complex, $11.71 from its current $10.40,” he said. unsecured vehicles seem to be a target of Fitzgerald said the 92-cent increase is due choice for some crooks. primarily to the reduction of the overall valu- GPS monitors, laptop computers, and even ation of properties in town. newly purchased gifts in plain site equal bait This year, the assessor said, a tri-annual full when it comes to people trying to get some- Christopher Tanguay photo valuation of all properties in town was com- thing for nothing. NORTHBRIDGE — Members of the Balmer Elementary School Show Choir perform a number during pleted. It reflected the impact the ailing econ- “Put it in the trunk,” Handfield said of all their annual holiday concert, Friday, Dec. 10. For story and more photos, see page A15. omy is having on real estate assessments. merchandise left in cars. “Out of sight, out of “The entire taxable base was reduced by mind. If it’s on the seat or visible, who knows $115 million,” Fitzgerald said, explaining the Turn To SCAM page A8 overall valuation dropped from approximate- ly $1.5 billion last year to $1.4 billion this year. For the average single-family home, Fitzgerald said, taxes will increase by approx- imately $170 annually, while the valuation of Bricks to honor Vietnam veterans the same home declined nearly 6.5 percent. Fitzgerald said commercial and industrial properties declined in value between 12 and BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY “We don’t have a finished TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER 13 percent. design, but we’re looking to Before deciding to maintain the single tax NORTHBRIDGE — The have them incorporated into rate, the board reviewed other options for the Vietnam Memorial a walkway that would go to FY 2011 tax classification, though chose not to Committee is raising funds the memorial,” Trajanowski accept any of them on the advisement of this holiday season through said of paver bricks people Fitzgerald and the Board of Assessors. the sale of permanent mark- can purchase and have “None will increase revenue to the town,” ers commemorating loved engraved in honor of a veter- Fitzgerald said, adding that each option, ones to be incorporated in the an. while potentially saving residential taxpayers town’s memorial. Bricks cost $100 each, and a few pennies, would inevitably shift the bur- Ken Trajanowski, veter- can have up to three lines of den to another sector of the town’s tax base. ans’ services director for personalized text. The first option was to split the tax rate Northbridge, Uxbridge, Bricks can be ordered at with residents paying one rate, while com- Douglas and Sutton, the Veterans’ Services office mercial, industrial and personal property explained the fundraiser that at 875 Hill St. in Whitinsville, owners would pay a different rate. will help see construction of or by following the link on the Fitzgerald said the Board of Assessors did the memorial through to Turn To BRICKS A8 Turn To TAX, A8 fruition. page An artist’s rendering of the planned Vietnam Memorial in Northbridge. page A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A9 ....................... SENIOR SCENE A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A11 .............................. SPORTS CONTACT THE TRIBUNE EDITOR AT A7 .................................... OBITUARIES B SECT........................ CALENDAR ANDY STONEBRIDGEPRESS COM INSIDE @ . 2 • Friday, December 17, 2010 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE VALLEY NOTEBOOK TRIBUNE ALMANAC Mendon earns Bertonazzi award QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY “You can honor a brother, sister, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER parent, daughter, son, there’s no REGION — Several local entities better way … and you’ll be help- received accolades in the last couple months for a variety of ing build our memorial, which different distinctions. is long overdue.” Here is a wrap up of awards and honors given out recently. Veterans Agent Ken Trajanowski, on the The town of Mendon earned the sale of paver bricks to help fund a 2009/2010 Outstanding Vietnam Memorial in Northbridge. Citizenship Award from the Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi Foundation for superb voter OPEN TO CLOSE turnout. The foundation, named for for- Northbridge Town Manager mer state Sen. Louis Bertonazzi, (508) 234-2095 D-Milford, gives the Citizenship Northbridge Town Clerk Award to the one of 19 towns (508) 234-2001 Bertonazzi once represented Northbridge Middle School, Pleasant that has the best voter turnout in Street, Whitinsville (508) 234-8718 elections over the course of two Northbridge Elementary School,87 years. Linwood Ave., Whitinsville (508) 234- Previous winners of the 5264 Outstanding Citizenship Award Northbridge High School, Linwood include Sutton in 2005/2006 and Avenue, Whitinsville (508) 234-6221 Northbridge in 2007/2008. Balmer School, Crescent Street, In the 2009 local election, 33.88 Whitinsville (508) 234-8161 percent of Mendon voters cast Grammar & Primary Schools, Cross ballots. In the U.S. Senate pri- Street, Whitinsville (508) 234-6346 mary, 15.48 percent came out, Special Education Department.87 and in the following U.S. Senate Courtesy photo Linwood Ave. Whitinsville (508) 234-8701 special election, 66.20 percent of Valley Tech’s Adams Scholarship winners Douglas Town Manager all voters in town went to the (508) 476-4000, ext. 101 polls. In 2010, 40.73 percent of Douglas Town Clerk registered voters cast ballots, fol- tured in the magazine’s January Scholarships are awarded to the Among the 70 scholarship recipi- (508) 476-4000 lowed by 10.49 percent in the 2010 2011 list of the top 10 best new top 25 percent MCAS test scorers ents are Leah Default, Douglas Elementary School, Gleason state primary and 59.79 percent courses. earning Advanced and/or Aliciamarie Halacy, Timothy Court, Douglas (508) 476-2154 in last November’s general elec- Shining Rock is also named the Proficient in math and English Hayes, Meghan Macchi, Sean Douglas Intermediate School,21 tion. best value of the top 10 high- language arts.