Dudley-Charlton Regional Will Not Be Finished by the End of the Year
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. 2, No. 38 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM ‘‘I suppose most editors are failed writers — but so are most writers’ Friday, Sep 19, 2008 School A TIME TO REMEMBER Landfill survey capping sent will be home extended PERFORMANCE TOWN DOESN’T RATING IS EXPECT PROJECT TO SOUGHT FINISH THIS YEAR BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL CHARLTON — The com- STAFF WRITER munities that send the stu- CHARLTON — Town officials are now esti- dents to schools in the mating that capping the Flint Road landfill Dudley-Charlton Regional will not be finished by the end of the year. School district are getting a “It did seem determined it would not be chance to evaluate it. completed this year,” Town Administrator A survey Robin L. Craver announced at the Tuesday’s asking the Sept. 9 selectmen’s meeting. community Taunton-based BATG Environmental, to answer under a 2005 contract with the town for $1 mil- questions lion, started closing the site that year. The con- about the tract is meant to let the town close the site at school dis- no cost to the municipality. As work progress- tricts per- es, the town gives the money back to the com- formance Sean Gilrein pany “upon satisfactory completion of the will be avail- final cap.” able to The landfill project was scheduled to be fin- Charlton and Dudley resi- ished by the end of the year, according to dents online and at local com- Shawn Kelley photo Craver, but now other steps to establish a new munity centers starting in the completion date and finish the project are second week in October. DUDLEY — Clockwise from left, trumpet player being detailed. Superintendent Sean M. Tim Chatham, 14, of Charlton closes his eyes as A walk of the site will be held to formulate Gilrein announced the meas- he plays “Taps” into the sun during a ceremony a new set of goals the company must meet to ure at the district’s at Shepherd Hill Regional High School on the sev- allow the town to resume releasing money enth anniversary of Sept. 11 last week. Officer Wednesday, Sept. 10 meeting. back to the company. The town had been Jim Day of the Dudley Police Department salutes Residents will have two weeks under a court order to bar it from releasing the American Flag. “Remember “was the theme to submit them back to the the money. at Shepherd Hill. Police Sgt. James Knochel school district. The town will also have to decide which one helps fold the American Flag. “We’re looking to get a bead of two estimates to complete the project will … on four specific areas,’ be used after the town recently discovered it Gilrein said. could cost an additional $1.8 million to com- Respondents will be asked plete the project, according to Board of Health to answer questions about Chairman Nelson Burlingame. technology used in the school, In August, CDM Engineer Bruce Haskell the curriculum and the cul- presented a $2.1 million figure if the town ture of the school system. It Beavers pose ‘dam’ problem would have to pay if BATG abandoned the will also seek general com- work. The other choice will be an estimate mentary about the district BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL his land. He asked the Board Of done by BATG, Burlingame said, but the and its schools. Parents and STAFF WRITER Selectmen for help at their Tuesday, firm’s president, Michael J. Donato did not residents will be able to CHARLTON — Gillespie Road Sept. 9 meeting, where suggestions respond to several voicemails left for him last choose from five categories, resident George Butz has some were floated and debate was week. He has said it would “never” cost $2.8 strongly agree, agree, dis- unwelcome neighbors. lengthy. million to close the site and could even be com- agree strongly disagree, and They have large, sharp teeth. “They’re not going to do any- pleted for under $1 million. Rising work costs don’t know. They only come out at night. They thing unless it creates an emer- account for the higher estimates, according to A sample draft of the evalu- have flat tails. They cause floods in gency on the road,” Butz said of his Charlton Health Inspector James Philbrook. ation reveals some of the his back yard. understanding of selectmen’s dis- The new steps are being taken after the state questions. Under the culture “The beavers come along and cussion over the issue. Department of Environmental Protection category, one rating opportu- make it like an ocean,” Butz said. The Ad-Hoc Wildlife Committee (DEP) met with town officials and BATG rep- nity states “The school has a The 64-year-old Butz is continu- will explore how much it would resentatives Tuesday, Sept. 9. positive reputation in the Ryan Grannan-Doll photo ing his quest to permanently stop cost to fix a culvert that clears the “We had a very good dialogue,” Craver said. community.” Gillespie Road resident George Butz water from flowing onto his proper- area of water. Several factors are contributing to the new Another question, under tries to clear out a clogged drain that ty caused by beaver dams around Turn To SURVEY, page 11 beavers have plugged up near his home. Turn To BEAVERS, page 11 Turn To LANDFILL, page 11 Wall to wall history at Capen Hill PRIDE IN THE FLAG BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Community Relations worker Brigitte STAFF WRITER Nolin. CHARLTON — Jerry Suprenant “It’s all native stones,” she said. did not just build a stonewall for a From there, the asthmatic local nature preserve, he con- Suprenant, who also sits on the sanc- structed a symbol representing tuary’s Board of Directors, overcame the history of many his breathing difficulties to build a Massachusetts towns. new version of what once dotted New “It just adds so much charac- England landscape — stonewalls. At ter to the wall,” the 75-year old the same time, his upbeat attitude Suprenant said as he pointed drove him to create a wall he said will to a jagged rock in the wall he make the land more attractive to its built at Capen Hill Nature visitors. Sanctuary on Route 20. “I “Once he started,” Nolin said of would love to see what this is Suprenant, “he can’t stop.” going to look like in three or four Suprenant lived up to that charac- years.” terization, he said, by tapping into his For now, however, visitors will be own beliefs. able to enjoy the rock wall that lines “My philosophy [is], if you are not the entrance to the visitor’s center. doing something, you are doing noth- Suprenant, a Sturbridge resident, ing,” Suprenant said. “I don’t want to began working on the wall this do nothing.” Shawn Kelley photo Ryan Grannan-Doll photo spring by gathering brown- With every rock he placed, STURBRIDGE — Children attending Big Truck Day on Sturbridge Town Common Saturday, Sept. 13 helped hold up the giant flag from under- The wall 75-year-old Jerry Suprenant (shown raking stone and granite rock scat- Suprenant said, he gained a huge neath. For related story and more photos, turn to page A4. stones) built at Capen Hill Sanctuary sits under the tered throughout the sanctu- amount of personal satisfaction. ary, according to Capen Hill tree line near the forest. Turn To WALL, page 11 TRIVIA Almanac ................. 2 Learning................ 9 WINNING A Obituaries .............. 7 Calendar ...............7 TEACHING KIDS What is “Old Ironsides?” Police Logs .............. 5 Real Estate ...B Section TO READ FAMILY AFFAIR Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 14-15 ANSWER INSIDE INDEX INDEX PAGE 3 PAGE 14 2 • THE CHARLTON VILLAGER • Friday, September 19, 2008 www.charltonvillager.com ‘Significant’ flow of VILLAGER ALMANAC THEY SAID IT “My philosophy [is], if you are not doing some- traffic comes to a stop thing, you are doing nothing. I don’t want to do nothing.” — 75-YEAR-OLD JERRY SUPRENANT, WHO BUILT A SELECTMEN APPROVE SIGNS AT INTERSECTION STONEWALL AT CAPEN HILL NATURE SANCTUARY. BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER OPEN TO CLOSE CHARLTON — “STOP” CHARLTON TOWN HALL (508) 248-2200 That word adorns two new signs Board of Selectmen (248-2206): greeting drivers at the intersection Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays .............. 7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. of Hycrest Road, Pheasant Lane and Tuesdays ............................................................. 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Deer Run. Fridays ............................................................... 7:30 a.m to 12 p.m. Selectmen on Tuesday, Sept. 9 Town Clerk (248-2249): unanimously approved installing Monday to Thursday ............................................ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the signs, an action that came after Fridays ................................................................................... Closed the signs were already put in place. 1st and 3rd Tuesday ................................................... 5:30 to 7 p.m. “I thought it was warranted,” Charlton Police Chief James A. CHARLTON PUBLIC LIBRARY (248-0452) Pervier said of why the signs went Mondays, Wednesdays ...................................... 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. up. Tuesdays, Thursdays ........................................ 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The move comes after a neighbor- Fridays, Sundays .................................................................. Closed hood resident expressed concern to Saturday .............................................................. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. state Rep. Geraldo Alicea, D- CHARLTON POLICE DEPARTMENT (248-2250) Charlton, who also lives on Deer Monday to Friday ................................................... 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Run, according to a Friday, Sept. 5 For emergencies, dial 911 memo from Town Administrator Robin L. Craver. CHARLTON FIRE DEPARTMENT (248-2299) Seeing as it is a public safety con- Monday to Friday ..................................................