Brouillette Edges Chesebrough to Hold Seat on BOS WIN SECURES 3-2 BALANCE on BOARD

PRSRT STD POSTAL U.S. POSTAGE PAID CUSTOMER PERMIT #231 ECR WSS SOUTHBRIDGE, MA 01550 Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. 1, No. 34 Complimentary Home Delivery, 75 cents on newsstands ONLINE: www.blackstonevalleytribune.com “Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.” Friday, May 23, 2008 Brouillette edges Chesebrough to hold seat on BOS WIN SECURES 3-2 BALANCE ON BOARD NEWS ANALYSIS BY THOMAS MATTSON TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER DOUGLAS — In what was a do-or- die election for local Democrats, incumbent Paula Brouillette defeat- ed Republican Eben Chesebrough With her narrow win over GOP chal- for a three-year term on the Board lenger Eben Chesbrough, Douglas of Selectmen. Thomas Mattson photo Selectman Paula Brouillette saved face With Brouillette’s return to the for area Democrats. Valley Tech’s class of 2008 celebrates at the conclusion of ceremonies last Saturday. board by a close margin of 555-524, the selectmen’s Republican majori- did Brouillette. Sometimes it is the ty maintains a 3-2 edge in most tonality of a general view that tilts a votes, with Brouillette usually in general opinion toward interpret- the minority. Brouillette and fellow ing a candidate as “liberal” or “con- ‘SECOND TO NONE’ Democrat Mitchell Cohen see eye to servative.” For example, Hughes eye on many issues, while John has been hesitant to take every posi- Bombara, Selectmen Chairman tion advocated in particular by VALLEY TECH BIDS ADIEU TO CLASS OF 2008 Michael Hughes and Scott Medeiros Bombara. Hughes has in fact shown are often aligned on the other side. a sensitivity to Bombara’s feelings Had Chesebrough won the election, on a position Hughes eventually that would have meant four conser- may win Bombara over from. --BY THOMAS MATTSON recent years have been held out- Valley Tech become the vative voices on the board against TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER side, but the weather continued Commonwealth’s flagship CTE And Brouillette is the founder of one liberal. the Four Town Study Committee, UPTON — Some 1,750 family rainy into Saturday morning and [Career-Technical Education] cen- At the same time, it must be said and friends wished 222 graduates it was decided to have it inside. ter second to none.” involved in an ongoing assessment that the labels “conservative” and of policy toward industrial-com- of Blackstone Valley Regional Some 1,350 seats were set up in Your accomplishments have “liberal” are not always appropriate Vocational Technical High School the center and another 400 in a alerted the public to address out- mercial development along the definers of policy stances. For Route 146 corridor in Douglas, well Saturday, May 17, in the nearby area. dated misconceptions toward example, it is not at all certain how Northbridge, Sutton and Uxbridge. Fitzpatrick Competition Center. Addressing the class of 2008, Chesebrough would have voted on Turn To VALLEY TECH A13 She has also been an enthusiastic Graduations at Valley Tech in Fitzpatrick said: “You have helped page any number of issues. He favored a stronger industrial base, but then so Turn To ELECTION page A15 Voters approve budget, reject power plant plan BY ANDY LEVIN power plant to be built in the town’s ommended by Town Manager Jill about a third less than what was “I really don’t like this budget as a TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER industrial park. Myers and the School Committee’s withdrawn from municipal savings municipal manager, but it is fiscally UXBRIDGE — Voters here Approximately 500 people attend- original request, the budget to balance the fiscal year 2008 budg- responsible,” Myers said after the approved a $34.4 million fiscal year ed the Annual Town Meeting May 13 includes substantial reductions in et. Moreover, this year’s stabiliza- Tuesday session. “In the next couple 2009 budget, but they rejected and 14 at the high school. municipal and education spending. tion transfer was not used to bal- of years we will hopefully be able to amending a zoning bylaw that Approved by voters after several Voters did approve transferring ance the operating budget. The build up stabilization and get back would have allowed an electric weeks of negotiations to resolve an more than $800,000 from the stabi- account held around $1.4 million impasse between the proposal rec- lization account over two nights, prior to Town Meeting action. Turn To VOTERS page A6 Alternatives to celebrate Whitin Mill’s renovation with festivities BY ANDY LEVIN TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER NORTHBRIDGE — Two years and almost $9.5 million later, Alternatives is ready to cut the rib- bon on its ambitious Whitin Mill restoration project. A ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday,May 30, at Alternatives, 50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville. While the project remains a work in progress (though many of its features have been complete for some time), next week’s event is a way to formally announce that the doors to Alternatives’ multi-faceted community complex are open to the public. “We’re finally just going to say, ‘we’re open,’” said Executive Director Dennis Rice. For three decades, Alternatives has served hundreds of people with developmental and psychiatric disabilities through its 45 residential and employment programs across the region. Now, with the advent of the Whitin Mill project, the non- Andy Levin photo profit agency is seeking to forge a A bird’s eye view of Alternatives’ restored Whitin Mill and plaza. The human service Thomas Mattson photo closer connection with the commu- agency’s entire Whitinsville complex will be energy-independent when a water turbine nity at large. With their math teacher Kathleen Mancini are (from left) Cheyenne Huffor, Amber is installed, probably this summer. Brock and Michael Jameson. “There’s a great deal of interest,” stronger community.” dominant industrial enterprise. But Rice said. “That a human service The circa-1826 Whitin Mill, built along with the historical and educa- agency would take on a project like along the banks of the Mumford tional features of the project — $4.2 this is a new paradigm. We want to River, was once home of the nation’s engage the community and build a Turn To MILL page A8 Students score in math BY THOMAS MATTSON at St. John’s High School in TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Shrewsbury. A2,3 ........................... LOCAL A9 ................... SENIOR SCENE NORTHBRIDGE — Four One of the four — Michael Northridge Middle School students Jameson, an eighth-grader — A4,5 ........................ OPINION A12 .......................... SPORTS placed in the top 15 among 350 of scored a perfect 12 and was in a A7 ....................... OBITUARIES B2 ......................... CALENDAR their peers at the Middle group of fewer than five students INSIDE School/Junior High School Math who accomplished that. 6 56525 10401 5 Invitational competition last month Turn To MATH page A6 2 • Friday, May 23, 2008 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Alternatives to host Valley Friendship Tour TRIBUNE ALMANAC NORTHBRIDGE — Valley everyone.” Friendship Tour, Alternatives’ annu- Maryann Newton, of Gaudette QUOTATION OF THE WEEK al fund-raiser, will be held at 8 a.m., Insurance Agency, Inc., said, “Being “We just walked away from that money.” May 31, at Alternatives’ Whitin Mill, a member of ‘Gerry’s Gang’ is spe- 50 Douglas Road in Whitinsville. cial because we walk in memory of — Uxbridge attorney Gerald Lemire, sponsor of a failed Participants can travel along one Gerry Gaudette, who loved bylaw amendment that would have allowed an electric plant to of six non-competitive routes rang- Alternatives. The walk provides me be built in the industrial park. ing from a mile to 50 miles. Routes an opportunity to give a little some- are open to walkers, runners and thing back to my community while cyclists. enjoying the company of family and THE STATS Following the event, participants friends. It also reminds me just how Per Capita Income By Race/Ethnicity ($) will enjoy a complimentary lunch blessed I am to have two healthy, Town Per Capita Income (African American) and live music by Heritage String beautiful children.” Auburn . 22,440 Band. Both teams and individuals Since its inception, Valley Brimfield . 131,008 are welcome; pre-registration is $20, Friendship Tour has raised more Brookfield . 0 while registration day-of is $25. than $1 million. Charlton . 40,544 Teams that are formed by communi- “We currently have over $60,000 in Douglas . 12,356 ty organizations, and raise more sponsorships from wonderful part- Dudley . 288 than $1,000, will receive half the ners and we hope that, with the help Holland . 0 money they raise to be returned to of the community, including corpo- Leicester . 12,013 their organization as part of a com- rate teams, we can more than double Northbridge . 10,385 munity-building effort. It’s truly a this amount to support our pro- Courtesy photo Oxford . 40,984 fun day for a great cause! grams,” said Dennis Rice, executive Cyclists at last year’s Valley Friendship Tour. Southbridge . 11,854 The tour has become a staple in director of Alternatives. Spencer . 12,703 the local community’s annual Proceeds from the Valley non-profit who’s mission is to pro- Sturbridge . 0 events. Longtime supporter and for- Friendship Tour enable Alternatives vide the necessary skills and sup- Uxbridge . 10,170 mer Board Chair Scott Rossiter, said to purchase much needed adaptive port to people with psychiatric and Wales . 37,720 of the tour, “Years ago, Valley equipment and furnishings for their developmental disabilities so that Webster . 21,012 Friendship Tour was my first long programs, continue the Community they can lead satisfying and success- bike ride, so I look forward to it Bridging Grant program, and sup- ful lives in the settings of their every year.

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