Dudley Holds Public Forum on Hemp Production
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Free by request to residents of Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, February 1, 2019 Dudley holds public forum on hemp production BY JASON BLEAU One option may be the grown abundant enough to have war- the Economic Development dormant, so we were trying to TIMES CORRESPONDENT and manufacturing of hemp. ranted a public forum on Jan. Committee is “carrying the figure out how to get those dor- DUDLEY – As the town of Often closely related to mari- 17 where representatives of torch” with committee chair mant lands active again. We Dudley continues to seek oppor- juana, hemp is a much mild- the Massachusetts Department John Briare sering as the mod- were looking at what we call tunities for economic growth er art of the cannabis family. of Agriculture Resources erator for the hemp forum. crops of opportunity,” Briare part of the focus has turned to Whereas marijuana is often (MDAR) shared information Briare said that agriculture said to start off the forum. “The the future of farmland in the used as a recreational drug about hemp and its potential continues to be an important more research we did it turns community. Citizens have not hemp is not psychoactive and uses and profitability. part of Dudley’s identity and if out that Dudley, believe it or shied away from voicing their is used for more manufacturing The forum was born from the town wants to preserve that not, was one of the centers of disdain for adding more solar purposes than anything else. a meeting in December at the aesthetic hemp may be one via- industrial hemp production farms to the town which had With that in mind the plant Dudley Grange where Dudley’s ble future option for farmers to for years. That’s why there are left farmers and the town’s eco- has been considered as a poten- impending Agriculture explore. mills all around us. It was pro- nomic development committee tial viable crop that Dudley Advisory Committee was “Dudley has almost a third cessed here, it was made into exploring new options more farmers might be interested discussed as well. Until that of its land agriculturally pro- akin to traditional agriculture in producing. The interest is committee is made official tected here. A lot of that land is Turn To HEMP, page A16 practices. Four finalists announced for Dudley-Charlton Superintendent BY JASON BLEAU TIMES CORRESPONDENT DUDLEY/CHARLTON – The Dudley Charlton Regional School District is one step closer to having a new Superintendent with four finalists for the position announced by the school committee during a meeting on Jan. 23. Superintendent Search Committee Chair and School Committee member Elaine Rabbit revealed the names to the public during the meeting and said the pool of final candi- dates was originally bigger but only four finalists chose to be considered for the job. “On Jan. 10, the search committee entered deliberations and selected five candidates to move forward for consider- ation. We were notified that one candidate has requested that their name be removed from consideration,” Rabbit told the school committee. The remaining four finalists are all candidates with extensive backgrounds in education, each having served in administrative positions during their careers. Revealed in alphabetical order, the candidates are: Dr. Julia Carlson, the assistant superintendent of Fall River public schools. She holds a Master’s degree from the Gus Steeves Photo University of Hawaii and a doctorate from Boston College. A resident of Providence, R.I., Dr. Carlson began her career HAIL TO THE (NEW) CHIEF as a special education teacher and served as a principal and vice principal for schools in both Hawaii and Rhode Island. New Webster Police Chief Mike Shaw hangs out with his daughter and retired Chief Tim Bent at Jennifer Haggerty currently serves as superintendent of the police department’s Meet the Chief gathering last Wednesday. Turn To SUPERINTENDENT, page A16 ‘Triple win’ benefits Bay Path students BY GUS STEEVES six months “depending on what we has lasted 17 years and “we’ll prob- TIMES CORRESPONDENT run into.” ably put 200,000 [miles] on it.” CHARLTON – For most people, “This is a big job,” he added Skills Mass Vice President Anika a totaled van is a write-off. But later. “It’s a little bit of everything, Koopman, a junior at Blackstone for Bay Path Tech’s Auto Collision heavy on the collision [work] but Valley Tech, will be glad to see shop, it’s an opportunity. also other aspects.” the old van retired because she Last week, Mapfre Insurance and The project will go to bene- doesn’t much like being transport- Insurance Auto Auctions provid- fit Skills Massachusetts, where ed around the state “in a vehi- ed those students with one, which Executive Director Karen Ward cle of questionable status.” She teacher Raymond Beck described said it will “help us deliver our described partnerships like this as as “a great teaching tool because program” when the work’s done. “often overlooked, but solid busi- it covers so many aspects of the The group has 34,000 members ness practice” where the schools trade.” Among other things, it statewide and provides leadership and businesses are “linked togeth- gives them a chance to get practical training, service projects and other er for the common goal” of finding experience with frame repair, laser assistance from its office in South skilled workers. measurement, mechanical work, Easton. “Thank you immensely for Gus Steeves Photos painting and detailing. But they “To make those opportunities believing in us,” Koopman said, From right, Bay Path teacher Ray Beck, Skills Massachusetts happen, we need to get there,” she later adding she’s not in her can’t do it all; Beck noted some Vice President Anika Koopman, BP senior Dominick said. “… It’s a big lift for a small school’s automotive shops, but parts of the project will involve Berthiaume, IAA’s Steve Betley and Skills Massachusetts cooperation with neighboring non-profit to buy a van commer- Executive Director Karen Ward pose with the van Bay Path’s shops. He expects it to take about cially,” noting their current van Turn To BAY PATH, page A4 Auto Collision shop will be fixing for Skills Massachusetts. Call volumes up for Dudley Fire Department in 2018 BY JASON BLEAU well as a comparison between 2017 “EMS was up just over two percent TIMES CORRESPONDENT and 2018 showing that while there and the total was up almost six DUDLEY – Dudley fire and have been increases over a long percent, so they were some pretty emergency calls were up in 2018, period of time the increase over significant increases.” according to Fire Chief Dean the last year was uncharacteristi- These increases include fire Kochanowski, who presented an cally high. calls, EMS calls and mutual aid updated look at call records for “The five-year increase was 29 where the Dudley Fire Department the department to the Board of percent total and just under 15 per- assists outside towns. With around Courtesy Photo Selectmen in January. cent for the ten year increase. The 2,000 calls total reported over the As he does every year, Chief Dudley firefighters respond to an incident in October. more important one is the increase last year the chief explained that Kochanowski presents a five and Emergency calls through the department were up 14 percent from 2017 to 2018 and fire calls were ten year breakdown of recorded in 2018. up 14 percent,” Kochanowski said. Turn To FIRE DEPARTMENT, A15 calls through his department as page 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, February 1, 2019 www.StonebridgePress.com Fundraising efforts continue for Oxford dog park Kris Bird, Lucy, and Chief Anthony Saad. Kimberly Maschi Photos including paying off overdue lunches Berthiaume, states “The protesters of Friends of the Oxford Dog Park with check from Curaleaf MA. in the local public schools. Curaleaf MA Laughlin kennel are looking into doing representatives state, “When students a fundraiser in April for the Oxford Dog BY KIMBERLY MASCHI so that is why we haven’t given specific cannot afford to pay off their lunches, Park.” TIMES CORRESPONDENT details on anything yet. We appreciate they’re often left eating cheese sand- Berthiaume continues to fight for OXFORD — The Friends of the Oxford everyone’s patience!” wiches; resulting in self esteem prob- local animals. dog park continue to gain funds, raise Residents seem to be anxiously await- lems and bullying.” This is the reason The Friends of the Oxford Dog Park awareness on local licensing, and look ing the local dog park. Oxford resident, Curaleaf says they donated money to are also vigilant about the local com- forward to bids going out in February. Shannon Maki, says she cannot wait for the public schools. munity needs to obtain licensing for Emilie Arrighi, member of the dog the dog park. The local Oxford Police Department their local pets. Cat Licenses are due by park committee, states “we are very Local business, Curaleaf, located took up a personal collection within the Feb. 28. Late charge begins March 1st. close” to developing the park. at 425 Main St. in Oxford, graciously department for the month of December Dog Licenses are due by April 30th. Late “We are waiting to hear back from the donated $1,000 to the dog park. to support the Oxford Dog Park. The charge begins May 1. In order to obtain foundation on our design. If approved, The committee states, “Thank you to officers collected a total of $770.00 for a 2019 license, you can make payments the construction will go out to bid by Curaleaf right here in town for the very the Friends of the Oxford Dog Park by mail, sending to Office of the Town the end of February… we don’t want to generous donation of $1,000! Curaleaf is and donated the funds to representative Clerk, 325 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540.