Supporting a Friend Like Family
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. IV, No. 48 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, September 16, 2011 RAMS TROUNCE INDIANS IN OPENER Hodgeman to leave Pleasant Street Church BY ADAM T. SILVA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER NORTHBRIDGE — While Pastor Bill Hodgeman will be saying good- bye to the coalition he helped form, he’s confidant it’s in good hands. Hodgeman, the associate pastor of youth at the Pleasant Street Christian Reformed Church in Whitinsville, helped create the Northbridge Coalition with Craig Maxim, of the Family Continuity program in March of 2011. “On Sunday,Sept. 18, I will be say- ing farewell to the Pleasant Street community,” said Hodgeman, a native of Rye, N.H. “On Saturday, Oct. 1, I will be starting as the senior Adam T. Silva photo pastor at Crossroads Community Pleasant Street Christian Reformed Church in Framingham. I am not in Church Associate Pastor of Youth Bill a denomination where I am being Hodgeman receives a thank you/good- moved around, as this is completely bye note from, from left, Rachel Sullivan, under my own free will. I am really Alexis Melton and Megan Berg at the looking forward to being in the lead Northbridge Coalition meeting Thursday, pastor position, but it has been a fab- Sept. 8. ulous six-plus years at this church.” The Coalition is supported by the income families, anti-bullying, anti- Northbridge Public Schools, the substance abuse and anti-depres- Northbridge Association of sion, self injury and suicide. Churches, Family Continuity of “While Craig and I help create the Whitinsville, the Whitin Coalition, we recruited some great Community Center, the people to be a part of this and I know Northbridge Police Department and that they will carry on in this great the Whitinsville Christian School. tradition,” he said. “Craig, Members of the Coalition are Northbridge School Superintendent asked to join one of six task forces, Susan Gorky and Assistant which consist of connecting needs Superintendent Nancy Spitulnik and resources, strengthening par- ents and families, resourcing low- Turn To HODGEMAN page A13 Nick Ethier photos Northbridge kicker Alex Smith and the Rams send the ball Douglas PD honored over to the Indians after scoring a touchdown. Right: Making his first varsity start, Northbridge quarter- with award back Matt Phelan, right, makes one of his many deep throws on the night. WEBSTER — Northbridge junior quarterback two rushing TDs) in Northbridge’s 35-6 win over took to the air and the ground for 115 yards passing, Bartlett Saturday, Sept. 10. 42 yards rushing and four total scores (two passing, For the story and more photos, turn to page A11! Courtesy photo Emergency preparedness discussed The Douglas Police Department was awarded the Municipal Police Department First Place Award of Excellence in the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Challenge for its BY ADAM T. SILVA street. The developer goes through a authority to go on the property and dedication to public road safety. From left, Lt. Nick Miglionico, Det. Aaron TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER process where they go through the maintain it within perpetuity, as McLaughlin, Douglas Police Chief Patrick Foley, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Karen Wells, State Police Col. Marian McGovern, Secretary Mary Elizabeth DOUGLAS — The Board of Planning Board and ask them to opposed to owning it outright. Heffernan, Central MA Chief of Police President Mark Leahy. Selectmen approved the taking of approve the accepting of the street As Tuesday’s meeting was the the easement of Sunset Drive and by the town and then it goes to Town first full meeting of the board since BY ADAM T. SILVA State Police was awarded the First Madden Way at their meeting Meeting. To finish the process, we Tropical Storm Irene, the town’s TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Place Overall Winner Award of Tuesday night, Sept. 6. have to register it at the Registry of response was a heavily discussed DOUGLAS — The Douglas Police Excellence for the entire state, but “At this past town meeting in the Deeds and take it. The developer topic. Department was awarded the the Douglas Police Department was spring, the town voted to approve went bankrupt, so in this case, Police Chief Patrick Foley said Municipal Police Department First the highest ranked of any munici- the accepting of the streets,” said because of the way the deeds were that in the future, he would like to Place Award of Excellence in the pal department. Town Administrator Michael drawn up, the only way to cleanly see the town incorporate National Massachusetts Law Enforcement The Hingham Police Department Guzinski. “When a developer builds take the property was to do it Grid into pre-disaster meetings and Challenge on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in won second place and the Brookline a development, he continues to own through a taking of eminent have a closer relationship with the Boston. Police Department won third place the street. Either that, or the proper- domain.” The Massachusetts Department of ty owners own to the center of the The easement gives the town the Turn To PREPAREDNESS page A13 Turn To DOUGLAS PD page A8 Supporting a friend like family WEBSTER NONPROFIT HELPS AN EMPLOYEE AND HER HUSBAND BY JOY RICHARD at Point Breeze Restaurant in Eileen said she has been work- Webster, Sunday, Sept. 18, from 1 ing for Life-Skills for more than a UXBRIDGE — Sometimes it to 6 p.m., to help the couple with decade. She said she and Wayne takes a major change in life to the ever-growing medical expens- are close with many of the other find out just how much those es that come with a severe ill- employees associated with the around you care. ness. organization, but when her co- For Uxbridge resident and According to the ALS workers revealed they wanted to Webster-based Life-Skills speech Association Web site, amyotroph- help the couple with a fundraiser therapist Eileen Harris, that big ic lateral sclerosis is an illness in they were shocked. moment came when her husband which “is a progressive neurode- Life-Skills Day Rehabilitation Wayne was diagnosed with ALS, generative disease that affects Services Director and Friends of more commonly known as Lou nerve cells in the brain and the Wayne Harris Benefit Committee Joy Richard photo Gehrig’s Disease, in 2009. spinal cord. Motor neurons reach member Lisa Morgan said the Uxbridge resident Wayne Harris and his wife, Life-Skills of Webster employee Eileen, The Friends of Wayne Harris from the brain to the spinal cord group came together in late June will be the guests of honor at an upcoming benefit for Wayne at Point Breeze Benefit Committee will hold an and from the spinal cord to the Restaurant Sunday, Sept. 18. upcoming benefit for the couple muscles throughout the body.” Turn To LIFE-SKILLS page A8 A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A9 ....................... SENIOR SCENE A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A11 .............................. SPORTS CONTACT THE TRIBUNE EDITOR AT A7 .................................... OBITUARIES A13 ........................... CALENDAR AMINOR STONEBRIDGEPRESS COM INSIDE @ . 2 • Friday, September 16, 2011 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Video class to be offered at cable access BY ADAM T. SILVA Who is picked is based on a first come, first He describes the station as having two parts instituted an open door policy for anyone TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER served basis, but all applications are kept on — the government side, where board and com- interested and Aldrich believes the possibili- DOUGLAS — For anyone looking to try file in case anyone drops out, which has been mittee meetings are shown, and the public ties for what residents can make and achieve their hand at digital video technology, the in the case in previous years. The exact start side, where residents are given a chance to are endless. Douglas Cable Access Station is offering resi- date has yet to be announced, but will be soon broadcast specialty shows. “There is endless potential for something dents a chance to get started in November. and will be posted on the town’s website. “Right now, we have a couple of people that like this,” he said enthusiastically.“We have a “We are offering a class on the very basics of “The whole idea of the class is to help peo- send shows in just about every month,” he technology that is supplied to us by Charter how to shoot and edit digital video,” said Pat ple understand the ideas behind video and for said. “One show we have is “Real Estate Cable and the equipment that is allowed to be Aldrich, a part-time employee at the station. them to understand what the professionals Roundtable,” which is actually filmed in used by the public and it’s really a blackboard “Nowadays, there is editing software that have done,” he explained. “We are keeping it Milford. It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s that’s just waiting to be written on. There are comes with just about every computer out very simple. We call it the level one video real estate tips from people in the business. just so many ways that the community can get there and everyone has access to it. We are class, because it’s just getting your feet wet. Another show is “Physicians Focus,” which is involved.” using what we have at our disposal and we People will learn to operate a camera, under- a high-quality program that highlights differ- For those interested in the class or to find have put together a program that is a free stand what you want to do idea-wise, learn ent problems, such as heart disease and gives out more information about the cable access video class.” about all of the different possibilities with out a lot of information.” channel, go to douglasma.org The six-person, eight-week course will be video and generally getting the community Getting more people involved in the cable open for any Douglas resident ages 15 and up somehow involved with the programming station has been a high priority for the Cable Adam T.Silva may be reached at 508-909-4050 and will run on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.