CHURCH LISTINGS Said
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. 3, No. 5 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: www.charltonvillager.com “Politics is more dangerous than war, for in war you are only killed once.” Friday, Jan 30, 2009 Developer scraps mall plans KONOVER PULLS OUT OF RETAIL COMPLEX, FOR NOW BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL this time,” Konover Executive Assistant pany announced Lowe’s Home Improvement STAFF WRITER Lauren Samson said Monday.“…[We] definite- Center would be the anchor store for the com- CHARLTON — The firm developing the pro- ly hope to return one day complete our plex. Lowe’s is the only publicly known site posed Route 20 shopping center has brought efforts.” tenant. its plans to a halt. The Planning Board in December approved The complex was approved to be built on “Given the present downturn in the econo- a site plan application from Farmington, land between H. Putnam and Center Depot Ryan Grannan-Doll photo my and the shortage of retailers interested in Conn.-based developer Konover Associates to Roads, the Mass Pike and Route 20. This swath of land on the westbound side of Route building new stores, we have decided to cur- build a 500,000-square-foot facility retail shop- However, the company is now in violation of 20, opposite the new CVS store in Charlton, is tail our efforts to proceed with the project at ping center along Route 20. Last year, the com- Turn To KONOVER, page 11 where a retail shopping complex had been planned. Teen sets sights on election SAYS HE’LL RUN FOR SELECTMAN’S SEAT BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Shawn Kelley photos STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — He can’t legally drink yet, HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? but he could play the lottery, join the military or drive a vehicle. CHARLTON — Clockwise from above, Bradley Bousquet of Charlton holds it At the young age of 17, Millis Drive resident all together as he limbos his way through tropical paradise day. A sea of ele- Joseph Szafarowicz says he is running for a mentary school children takes a day to fight off wintertime blues with spot on the Charlton Board of Selectman. If he Tropical Paradise Day. Joseph Dumas looks like he can’t believe what he’s does, and if he wins, he would be the youngest seeing as he hoods his eyes like a crocodile would in the wild. elected town official in Charlton. He plans to challenge Republican David Singer for Selectman John R. Bacon’s seat. Bacon, 73, said he is running for another term. With a long road ahead to possibly winning as selectman’s seat, Szafarowicz was clear about his reasons for running. “I’m doing it for the people,” Szafarowicz said in an interview at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School last week, where he is a senior. To be clear,Szafarowicz’s eligibility won’t be an issue. He turns 18 on Sunday, Feb. 22, at which point he plans to register to vote (as a Republican) and pull out nomination papers. He is eligible to withdraw the documents on his birthday, according to Assistant Town Clerk Darlene Tully,and must submit them by Friday, March 13. Candidates for elected town office must also live in the town, which Szafarowicz does, and be registered to vote. Candidates near Szafarowicz’s age are rare, but that is not stopping him from running — his “can do” attitude, love for the political process and helping people is driving him to run for the town’s highest elected office. Family rallies as tragedy strikes Szafarowicz’s reasons for running can be traced back to when he started high school in 2005 and took up many activities. “I decided that I am going to make a name ENEFIT TO BE HELD FOR LOCAL MAN FIGHTING ILLNESS B Turn To SZAFAROWICZ, page 11 BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL (ADEM). He remains an “incom- Saturday, April 18, 7 p.m., at the STAFF WRITER plete” quadriplegic today, still Auburn Elks Club at 754 CHARLTON — A few months suffering from the effects of his Southbridge St. Tickets are $20 ago, Robert Bowes was an auto condition. He is currently at and the event will feature a live financier enjoying his life with Youville Hospital, where he auction, a cash bar and food. his wife and children. Then undergoes rehabilitation. How Robert Bowes became ill tragedy struck. “To see him helpless is very is part mystery, part fact but all The 46-year-old Charlton resi- disheartening,” said Mike fascinating. After that June day dent woke up the morning of Bowes, one of Robert’s seven sib- last year, doctors were unable to June 30 not able to use or feel his lings. identify what left him in his con- legs. An unknown virus left him There is hope, however. dition, according to a flyer from suffering from Acute A fundraiser to raise money the family. He was eventually Disseminated Encephalomyelitis for Bowes’s care will be held Robert Bowes Turn To BENEFIT, page 11 Farmer’s life one of struggles, happiness BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL farmers face many obstacles in jumping into McCarthy’s workers and caused one of her STAFF WRITER their field and staying in it. McCarthy’s and sheep to trample another. The injured animal CHARLTON — Three years ago Marianne the story of another local farmer are good later died, she said. McCarthy was looking for a farm to buy, but examples. “He could have killed my neighbor,” she soon learned it was easier said than done. Buying her land in August 2005, McCarthy said during a seminar at the Charlton Public “There are just a lot of hurdles,” said has had several problems with protecting her Library last week. McCarthy, who owns Signal Rock Farm, a property. Dogs, she said, frequently wandered Other unwelcome visitors have looted her sheep and milk farm on H. K. Davis Road in onto her property,but that was not the worst of property. In one instance, McCarthy said, Ryan Grannan-Doll photo Charlton. it. Hunters, she said, have crossed onto her teenagers tried to scare the sheep out of their Joseph Szafarowicz plans to run for selectmen this land, and even one time even fired guns near From finding the land, to faring through year. He is only 17, but will turn 18 in time to pull the farm. A bullet almost hit one of Turn To FARMING, 11 weather disasters, to protecting their property, page nomination papers. RAMS TRIVIA FARM IS A Almanac ................. 2 Calendar ................7 QUICK START On Jan. 12, 2005, this Police Logs .............. 5 Real Estate ...B Section BLESSING search stopped, having yield- Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 17-18 ENOUGH ed no discoveries. What was INDEX INDEX PAGE 3 Learning................ 14 PAGE 18 being sought? Answer inside. 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, January 30, 2009 www.charltonvillager.com Police warn A ‘gentle giant’ retires CHARLTON ALMANAC THEY SAID IT of break-ins from a life of police work “Everyday you come to work and he is not going to be here. BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL EBERT FETED FOR YEARS OF SERVICE STAFF WRITER H He was just a gentle giant.” BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL — Charlton Police Dispatcher Gail Foley, CHARLTON — Police are warning res- STAFF WRITER idents about a rash of business and on the retired Donald Hebert. home break-ins that started at the begin- CHARLTON — Police Sgt. ning of the year. Donald Hebert was once a OPEN TO CLOSE “Watch your neighbor’s property,”said cop, and will probably always Detective William J. Beaudry. be one at heart. TOWN HALL (508) 248-2200 According to Beaudry and Chief “I have not lost my eyes,” he Board of Selectmen (248-2206): James A. Pervier, the string of burgla- said immediately after find- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays ries, for which no suspects have been ing a bag of marijuana on the ...........................................7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. identified, started the first day of the floor of a local convenience Tuesdays..............................7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. year when someone broke in to a home store last week. Fridays ............................... 7:30 a.m to 12 p.m. near the intersections of routes 20 and Hebert retired from the Town Clerk (248-2249): Monday to Thursday.............10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 169. In this and the other cases, police Charlton Police Department Fridays....................................................Closed said TVs, camcorders and other electron- Jan. 2, after a 33-year career as a police officer,all of which First and Third Tuesday............5:30 to 7 p.m. ic items were taken. he spent with the Charlton Four more break-ins occurred Police. The Charlton Police Ryan Grannan-Doll photos PUBLIC LIBRARY (248-0452) Tuesday, Jan. 6, Friday, Jan. 16 and the Alliance held a retirement Mondays, Wednesdays.......9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. latest Wednesday, Jan. 21. Police refused Retired Charlton Police Sgt. Donald Hebert enjoys his new life last party for him Saturday, Jan. Tuesdays, Thursdays .........9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. to identify any of the homes only saying week. 24 at the Heritage Country Fridays, Sundays ..................................Closed only they were near the intersections of Saturday...............................9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Club. officers were trained by just him,” he said. routes 20 and 169. “It’s just time,” he said as riding with other officers, Ekman said he sprayed tear POLICE DEPARTMENT (248-2250) Witnesses have told police they spotted he enjoyed a cup of coffee compared to now where mem- gas on the suspect and called Monday to Friday..................