The Sound of Silence
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ON SELECT MODELS Mailed free to requesting homes in Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords 508-764-4325 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STONEBRIDGEPRESS.COM Friday, January 6, 2017 The sound Town reaches agreement with ISGW, of silence cemetery to proceed ‘WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE PATH FORWARD’ THE MINOR BY JASON BLEAU organization to pro- fit. As the people of to the Zoning Board of DETAILS NEWS STAFF WRITER ceed with its plans Dudley spoke against Appeals’ ruling that DUDLEY — The and resume the public the project discussing the ISGW lacked stand- ADAM ongoing and now hearing process with matters such as con- ing in June, a public MINOR year-long debate con- the Zoning Board of cerns with nearby wet- discussion about the cerning the proposed Appeals. lands and nearby wells, town’s ability to utilize Islamic cemetery on The story first public opinion outside right of first refusal I realize sometimes that I take a Corbin Road in Dudley gained public attention of the town saw accu- on the land, and the lot for granted — the food I eat, the took a major step for- in January 2016 and in sations against the peo- ISGW filing a lawsuit shoes on my feet, the roof above my ward towards a reso- February, a long public ple of Dudley for per- in Massachusetts Land head, the beat up, rusty car that lution just before the hearing process began ceived racist motives, Court. I drive, the heat within my four Christmas holiday, that sparked intense while the ISGW argued All that culminated walls, the fact that I can see, hear as Dudley selectmen debate about wheth- that state and federal in a months-long back and walk — they are all things in announced a settle- er or not the project laws like the Dover and forth between life that I have been able to enjoy, ment with the Islamic should be allowed to Amendment protected Dudley’s top town offi- and I am thankful for that, because Society of Greater proceed or if the town their ability to use the cials, who felt the town Jonathan Ruda there are many out there that can- Worcester (ISGW) on even had the ability to property for a ceme- was being seen in an not say one or more of the things I Dec. 22 to allow the prevent it if they saw tery. This debate led unfairly negative light Please Read CEMETERY, page A9 just listed. When I think about not being able to say one of those aforemen- tioned things, my heart breaks for the people that struggle with these things. But at the risk of diving Town bans into a completely different subject, there is one thing I temporarily lost recently, and it reminded me just how important it is. employees If any of you were wondering why I have been a little more dif- ficult to reach by phone during from pot use the week leading up to Christmas, there’s a good reason I wasn’t up to talking. I lost my voice. BY JASON BLEAU the drug properly by Communication is so different NEWS STAFF WRITER updating their Alcohol than it was even five to 10 years DUDLEY — and Drug Policy for ago. Facebook, Twitter, texting and Recreational marijua- town employees to e-mails — almost anything can be na may now be legal include the use of mar- related without uttering a single in Massachusetts, ijuana while working word. But when I lost my voice, I but that doesn’t mean for the town. realized just how much I still rely just anyone can use Town Administrator on having it. the controversial sub- Greg Balukonis read I can’t communicate with my stance at any time, off changes proposed kids as effectively. I can’t speak on Courtesy photos especially when on the to the town’s policy the phone. I can’t teach at my youth Around 100 families benefited from the generosity of the community in Webster town of Dudley’s dime. that would prevent group. I can’t have conversations during the 2016 Christmas season. Here, volunteers are shown with hundreds of With marijuana town employees from with my wife about her day, or ask gifts that were donated to make the Webster Police Department’s annual toy drive officially legalized using the drug while questions to my son about what he and distribution a massive success. on the clock in line did at school. As much as I rely on on Dec. 15 in the with their policy for the written word (as I’m sure you Commonwealth, the the use of alcohol to can imagine), it’s pretty amazing Town of Dudley is just how much we rely on the spo- taking another early create a “drug-free ken one. Local PD sees toy drive step in making sure It’s a rare occurrence in my life, they handle the use of Please Read POT USE, page A17 as I can only remember two other times it has ever happened, once in college and once in high school. success in 2016 It’s been more than a dozen years since it has happened last, and both BOS looks to times, it was at inopportune times ‘THERE IS A NEED IN OUR AREA’ — at a summer camp and then again during my senior internship. The summer camp one is actu- BY JASON BLEAU successful years he has seen for standardize police ally a pretty funny story. I was NEWS STAFF WRITER the annual toy drive. His depart- at a weeklong camp in upstate WEBSTER/DUDLEY — The ment saw one of the biggest years New York, and part of the camp Christmas season has come and in terms of need in the community hiring process revolved around a competition in gone, but looking back on the and was able to meet their quota dramatic skits. Our skit was early month of December, once again, and then some. on in the week, and I had a pretty the local communities showed “We had a good turnout for 2016. BY JASON BLEAU Manager Brian Palaia bad cold as it was, going in to it. NEWS STAFF WRITER overwhelming support of their Businesses and different people discussed the matter We made it through the skit OK, fellow citizens with outstand- really stepped up to make dona- OXFORD — As the with selectmen in late but my voice was gravely. I was ing donations to the Dudley and tions and we really appreciate it. Town of Oxford moves November, noting that clearing my throat, doing every- Webster Police Departments’ I think it was one of our larg- forward with its hir- a grant-funded audit thing I could not to have a coughing est distributions to date,” Wojnar ing of a new police conducted throughout fit while trying to deliver lines. I respective holiday toy drives. said. “We had somewhere in the chief, selectmen and the town concluded woke up the next morning, and Each year, both departments the town manager are that improvements my voice was completely gone. Not put together their own efforts to neighborhood of 30 families and also working to adjust could be made when even a shred of it left. I had to resort give back to their local communi- anywhere between 50 and 60 kids it comes to hiring for to whispering for three more days ties, accepting donations to help so it really just shows there is a the hiring process for the police department before it started to come back later the officers package collections of need in our area. We really appre- new officers to serve in the week, just in time to leave toys and goodies for families in ciate the support of everyone who the department fol- and, considering that and come back home. need to give local youngsters a stepped up to make this possible.” lowing a recent audit the Board of Selectmen One night in that three-day peri- Christmas to remember. Gifts were distributed on Dec. examining the town’s is the hiring authority od, my cabin camped out by the Dudley Police Chief Steve human resources and for the department, lake and we were charged with Wojnar called it one of the most Please Read TOY DRIVE, page A16 personnel system. telling each other our life stories, or Oxford Town Please Read BOS, page A16 “testimonies,” as church lingo dic- tates. Needless to say, my testimo- ny was related in a squeaky, bro- ken whisper, much to the delight of my buddies who so loved to give me a hard time. I heard many impres- Bay Path students partner with Operation Playhouse sions of me that week! As I type this, my voice has near- T S NOT JUST FOR A ON A TEST ly returned, again, almost three ‘I ’ 100 ’ days later, and I’m now a full week BY OLIVIA RICHMAN ing for us while helping in to recovering from this cold/flu NEWS STAFF WRITER that has been going around (includ- Habitat with their pro- ing both of my kids). I’m happy to CHARLTON — gram,” said Carpentry have my voice back, so if you left Bay Path Regional Shop Instructor Ron a message with me, have no fear, Vocational Technical Johnson. “It’s a nice it will be returned soon. In fact, by High School’s carpentry way for young people the time you read this, it probably shop partnered with the to give back and partic- will have already been returned.