PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF SOUTHBRIDGE AREA RELAY FOR LIFE! SERVING OUR READERS SINCE 1923 MONDAY , D ECEMBER 21, 2009 (508) 764-4325/VISIT US AT: www.theheartofmassachusetts.com Newsstand: 60 cents TODAY’S QUOTE New school cost put at $78M “Good breeding, a PRICE COULD GO DOWN FOR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH PROJECT union of kindness and BY GUS STEEVES football field at Torrey of and between them. independence.” — NEWS STAFF WRITER Ralph Waldo Emerson Road, but he and others Baseball, softball and SOUTHBRIDGE — The have said there’s no way other sports fields are slat- preliminary figures are in the state will pay for such ed to go east of the build- for the middle/high school an addition. ing, which will sit atop a TOMORROW’S project. Instead, he said, “we hill in what’s now a field. TOMORROW’S Last week, the School could put some money into The Massachusetts WEAEATHERTHER Building Committee and McMahon Field and save School Building Authority its architects revealed the the town a lot.” Web site notes that project on Torrey Road The committee revealed Southbridge is one of 10 would cost about $78 mil- its schematic designs for schools at this stage of lion, with the state paying the project at a public project design. Among the just shy of 80 percent of forum early this month. It others are Grafton High most elements of it. calls for a three-floor, School, Shrewsbury’s The committee still roughly V-shaped building Sherwood Elementary needs to do some work to with Grades 6-8 on one School and Tahanto “pare that down,” School wing and 9-12 on the other, Regional High School in Building Committee with shared and communi- Boylston, but none of Chairman Scott Lazo said. ty-use facilities (library, them are middle/high Gus Steeves photo Among other things, the gym, cafeteria, theater and Architect Charles Hay of Tappe Associates discusses the schematic Partly Cloudy plan includes a proposed art/music spaces) in front Please Read SCHOOL, page A7 designs for the new middle/high school at a public forum Dec. 10. High 27 Low 18 BREAKFAST WITH THE JOLLY ONE Doubt creeps WINNING LOOTTERTTERY NUMBERSUMBERS into program MASS. DAILY NUMBERS drawn Friday afternoon were: for recycling 1-9-6-6 MASS DAILY NUMBERS drawn Friday night were: RESIDENTS DEMAND 5-9-6-8 REFORM BY RECYCLEBANK MASS. DAILY NUMBERS drawn Saturday BY GUS STEEVES NEWS STAFF WRITER afternoon were: 7-1-3-6 SOUTHBRIDGE — A crowded room at the last Board of Health meeting raised serious concerns LOCAL about the effectiveness and organization of the town’s recycling program, particu- larly the rewards system offered by RecycleBank. Ultimately, albeit reluc- tantly, several people pres- ent agreed informally that the only real way to signifi- Melissa Joyce cantly hike recycling rates would be to start a pay-as- such a program, and its People, Places & Things you-throw program. recycling rate shot up to Recycling Coordinator nearly 66 percent. Page A3 Melissa Joyce noted Gardner recently started Please Read RECYCLE, page A7 SPORTS Shawn Kelley photos SOUTHBRIDGE — Above, Iban Pelaez, 11 months, of Southbridge tries to wake from his nap to say Police: Drug debt hello to Santa during a breakfast with the bringer of toys Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Quinebaug led to carjacking Lodge of Masons. Patrons enjoyed home- Pioneers tip off made omelets, pancakes and candy canes for FIGHT IN STURBRIDGE ENDS Page A10 dessert. Left, some patrons also WITH ARREST IN AUBURN enjoyed some dancing with Santa. BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL with armed robbery, armed NEWS STAFF WRITER GLOBAL AFFAIRS carjacking, motor vehicle For more DUDLEY — A Worcester larceny and armed assault WHAT’S HAPPENING man faces several serious to rob. He has not yet been photos, please charges after allegedly rip- arraigned on those charges, ‘BEYOND OUR BORDERS’ turn to Page ping off a man that owed according to Dudley District PAGE A2 A12. him money. Court records. Sturbridge police have charged Laqwon Brooks, 19, Please Read ARREST, page A11 OPINION GET YOUR POINT ACROSS PAGE A4 Charlton Town Hall holiday hiatus begins WHAT TO DO WHAT TO DO TWO-WEEK CLOSURE AIMS TO HELP TOWN’S BUDGET TROUBLES A CALENDAR BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Monday, Jan. 4. Selectmen others. some seniors may feel lone- OF AREA EVENTS NEWS STAFF WRITER and the Charlton Clerical Thursday afternoon town ly without a place to gather PAGE A5 CHARLTON — For weeks and Administrative Union, employees were working and socialize. town officials have dis- Service Employees Inter- hard to prepare their “Not worried,” she said. cussed the subject in antici- national Union Local 888 departments for the clo- “I’m going with the flow.” pation of what is now final- negotiated the closing ear- sure, or to be on call during Many services will con- ly here — the Town Hall is lier this year. the closure. tinue during the two closed for two weeks. For most employees, it Despite the hiatus, Senior weeks. Seniors can have Today is the first day the will be a furlough, while Center Director Elaine meals at three locations. building will be closed for Police Chief James A. Kingston said she will be on The Masonic Home will be two weeks, as part of the Pervier, Lt. Carl Ekman call for any emergencies hosting meals at 12:30 p.m. town’s plan to save money and Fire Chief Charles E. that may arise with the sen- each day for $3.50 at its during a tight fiscal year. Cloutier Jr. plan to work iors with whom she works. 6 56525 10441 1 Robin Craver The building will reopen some hours along with Kingston said she fears Please Read CHARLTON, page A11 2 • Monday, Dec 21, 2009 FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ACCURACY WATCH Symbol of hope has a wet nose THE SOUTHBRIDGE EVENING NEWS IS COMMITTED TO ACCU- TWO-LEGGED DOG INSPIRES RACY IN ALL ITS NEWS REPORTS. ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS SAFE- DISABLED ARMY VETS GUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE ACCURATE REPORTING, MIS- TAKES CAN OCCUR. BY SUE MANNING ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER CONFIRMED FACT ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED AT THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER OF PAGE A2 IN A TIMELY MANNER. LOS ANGELES (AP) — For several years, IF YOU FIND A MISTAKE, CALL (508)764-4325, EXT. 107 Jude Stringfellow and her Lab-chow mix DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. AFTER 5 P.M., PRESS EXT. have toured the country with a simple mes- sage: Faith walks. 152 FOR THE NEWSROOM HOTLINE. Born without front legs to a junkyard dog around Christmas 2002, Faith the puppy was Nielsen’s Top rejected and abused by her mother. She was rescued by Reuben Stringfellow, now an 20 on TV Army E-4 specialist, who had been asked to bury other puppies in the litter. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Southbridge Evening News (USPS 504-380) is pub- "Can we fix her? Stringfellow, then 17, Prime-time viewership numbers lished daily Monday through Friday, except holidays asked his mom. "No, but maybe we can help compiled by the Nielsen Co. for Dec. (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, her," she said. 7-13. Listings include the week's Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas), by So Reuben turned Faith over to his mother, ranking and viewership. English professor Jude Stringfellow. At first 1. Sunday Night Football: Stonebridge Press Inc., 25 Elm St., the family had to carry Faith to keep her off Philadelphia at NY Giants, NBC, Southbridge, MA 01550. her chest and chin. But with peanut butter AP Photo/Anthony M. Tortoriello 20.88 million. Periodicals postage paid at Southbridge, Mass. and practice, Faith learned to walk on her Faith, a Lab-chow mix born without front legs, has 2. "CSI: Crime Scene Postmaster: Send address changes to The News two hind legs. been made an honorary Army sergeant. Investigation," CBS, 16.43 million. Today Faith is a brisk, upright walker. 3. "The Mentalist," CBS, 16.37 mil- at address listed above. When she runs, every so often she adds a hop "She was in her wheelchair and saw us. She lion. Rates by carrier and motor route are $19.25 for 8 or skip to her step, but she stumbles less was crying. She had seen Faith on television. 4. "60 Minutes," CBS, 16.24 million. weeks, $31.25 for 13 weeks, $61.00 for 26 weeks often than most humans. She takes vitamins She just held her and said she wished she had 5. "NCIS," CBS, 15.087 million. and $120 for 52 weeks. and joint supplements, and vets have that kind of courage." Stringfellow said. "She 6. "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick," declared her very healthy,Stringfellow said. told us: 'I was on my way to pick up the gun.' NBC, 15.085 million. Mail (in county) rates are $45.60 for 13 weeks, Since her first step on March 22, 2003, Faith She handed the pawn ticket to a police officer 7. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, $90.50 for 26 weeks, and $162.60 for 52 weeks. has done the talk show circuit, gone on tour and said she didn't need it anymore." 14.84 million. Mail (out of county) rates are $61.50 for 13 weeks, with Ozzy Osbourne and been named an hon- That sense of hope is especially important 8. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 14.43 orary Army sergeant. Jude Stringfellow has for Faith's visits to Army bases. Last week- million. $111.00 for 26 weeks, and $197.50 for 52 weeks. become a motivational speaker and written end she headed to Washington state, where 9.