Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. 3, No. 39 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET ‘Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.’ Friday, September 25, 2009 Stolen cars are recovered TWO AREA DEALERSHIPS TARGETED BY TERESA FRANCO AND CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITERS STURBRIDGE — Sturbridge police apprehended two suspects in connection with a car theft opera- tion that spanned multiple towns. William Ebersold, 34, of Worcester, and Crystal Campbell, 23, of Holland, were arrested Tuesday at Wells State Park for, among other things, possession of several stolen vehicles. According to the police report, OnStar contacted police at approxi- mately 5 p.m. Tuesday, alerting them to a stolen vehicle located inside Wells State Park. Officers Larry Bateman and Earl Dessert were the first to respond to the park. After letting park person- nel know what was going on, the officers used a GPS device to find a 1999 Chevy Blazer. The officers determined the license plate was registered to Joseph S. Smith of Worcester, while The mandatory ban, limiting daytime water use, will be repealed at either the end of the month, or when water flows through the spillway at Westville Dam a check of the vehicle identification at the rate of 47.2 feet per second for seven days in a row. Teresa A. Franco photo number (VIN), showed the truck to Diamond on Washington Street in Auburn is one of two dealerships that have had be stolen from Diamond Chevrolet cars stolen from it. Police found the stolen cars in Sturbridge. Turn To THEFT, page A11 What’s behind the Penney’s still in business town water ban? STURBRIDGE FIRM REOPENS SPILLWAY LOW DESPITE WET SUMMER AFTER DEVASTATING FIRE BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY tect the aquatic habitat and VILLAGER STAFF WRITER water resources in the river.” BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY the investigation of the blaze, con- VILLAGER STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — Despite Coletta said in order to main- ducted by the Sturbridge Fire record-breaking rainfall in the tain the health of natural STURBRIDGE — If you had a Department and State Police early summer months, a manda- resources within in the tractor or riding lawnmower in for assigned to the Fire Marshal’s tory ban on unnecessary water Quinebaug River watershed — repair at Penney’s Appliance and office, was pretty much complete. use has been imposed on rated by the DEP as a medium Lawn Equipment, it should still be “The cause of the fire was deter- Sturbridge, per order of the stressed basin — the towns ready on time — give or take a cou- mined to be, most probably, electri- State Department of along the watershed, including ple days. cal,” Mieth said. Environmental Protection Sturbridge, which draw from Despite a structure fire that rav- “The area of origin was in the (DEP). the river, must agree to one of aged the business’s 171 Charlton basement ceiling below the first- The ban, which restricts “non- two types of restrictions to Road showroom building late on floor floor,” Mieth continued. “The essential outside water use,” make sure the water table stays Tuesday, Sept. 15, Russell and Terri only heat source there was electri- between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every at a safe level. Penney said they are here to stay — cal wiring, so they’ve determined day, will be in place through A calendar restriction, Coletta and here to serve their customers. the fire was electrical.” Wednesday, Sept. 30, or until the said, would designate one or two “Nobody’s taking me out, baby!” According to the business’s insur- Quinebaug River flows through days per week between May and Russ Penney said Monday from his ance carrier, Penney said, the show- the spillway at Westville Dam at September as days outdoor makeshift office in the business’s room building is a total loss. a rate of 47.2 cubic feet per sec- water use is prohibited. In warehouse, a completely separate “It’s just walls and ceilings,” Terri Christopher Tanguay photo ond for seven days in a row. Sturbridge’s case however, an building behind the one that burned Penney said, indicating the building An investigator from the State Fire Edmund Coletta of the DEP last week. will not be too hard to replace. Marshal’s Office led an accelerant-sniff- explained, “The issue is to pro- Turn To BAN, page A11 Early Monday, Jennifer Mieth of ing dog through the damaged building Turn To FIRE, A11 the State Fire Marshal’s office said page looking for any signs of arson. Teaching stewardship of the forest BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Department of Fish and VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Game, made when the STURBRIDGE — In the 800-plus acres formerly years following the indus- known as Camp Robinson trial revolution, much of Crusoe, now referred to New England’s once- as the Leadmine forested land, cleared for Mountain Conservation agriculture, was left to be Land, was jointly pur- reclaimed by nature and chased, was for return once again to for- Sturbridge to draft a for- est. est management plan to Unfortunately, with the help promote and main- introduction of any num- tain the healthiest and ber of invasive species, most diverse habitat they manipulation of the land- can. scape by people, and As the end of that plan- countless other factors, ning stage grows near, that natural reclamation Sturbridge officials and has not always produced wildlife experts hosted a the healthiest forests in forest stewardship walk which wildlife can thrive. on Saturday, Sept. 19 to Tree biologist Joe Kowalski of Ganesh Tree and Plant Health Care explained every- As part of the agree- highlight some of the thing you would ever want to know about the composition and lifecycle of trees ment between the town of during a forest stewardship walk though the Leadmine Mountain Conservation Turn To FOREST, page A11 Sturbridge and the State Land on Saturday. ALMANAC ..............2 VILLAGER TRIVIA LOCAL SPORTS Born in New York City on April POLICE LOGS ..........5 25, 1940, he went on to become an OPINION ..............10 B.T.’S HOLY NAME NIPS actor many people find hard to refuse to see. He has also performed CALENDAR ...........12 SMOKEHOUSE WARRIORS theater, in such plays as “Does a OBITUARIES ..........13 Tiger Wear a Necktie?” and appear- PAGE 3 PAGE 14 ing as Richard III. Who is he? INSIDE SPORTS ..........14-15 Answer inside. 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, September 25, 2009 RMV to issue turnpike vouchers? VILLAGER ALMANAC HANDICAPPED MOTORISTS COULD RECEIVE ASSISTANCE QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL cated on the RMV’s move out of Southbridge. Williams, who said he has not visited the STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Dufresne continued: “Walter, the Charlton site and typically does RMV transac- “Nobody’s taking me out, baby!” CHARLTON — To ease the financial strain Southbridge Evening News is not the Wall tions online, raised question about how the on disabled motorists, the state Registry of Street Journal and your reporters do not have vouchers would work. Williams wondered to — Russ Penney said Monday. Sept. 21, from his makeshift Motor Vehicles is considering giving them toll office in Penney’s Appliance and Lawn Equipment’s ware- the experience nor the competence to realize residents of which towns they would be given house, a completely separate building behind the one that vouchers to defray the costs of travel to the the difference.” and by whom. burned last week. Charlton branch. Dufresne’s harsh words came as a result of a “I’m more concerned about somebody using The issue arose after some concerned resi- simple request for information. On Wednesday, a wheelchair,” he said. “Would that cause any dents complained about handicapped parking Sept. 16, Dufresne e-mailed a press release extra difficulties for anyone who is disabled?” OPEN TO CLOSE issues at the site, located at the 5-East announcing it had awarded Charlton RMV cus- The Charlton branch’s recent opening Massachusetts Turnpike service area. tomers raffle prizes, but did not attach names caused much hoopla, which steamrolled into HOLLAND: 413-245-7108 Currently, disabled motorists are forced to use of winners. The Southbridge Evening News many safety complaints from area residents. Mon – Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the Pike, and pay a toll, to access the site’s five requested the names, but Dufresne withheld The new site opened in August as a “mitiga- 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. handicapped parking spaces. No handicapped them saying: “There is [a list of winner tion” office after the state, looking to save parking is available at the other parking area names], but for the sake of our customer’s pri- money in its current budget crunch, closed the FISKDALE: 508-347-6486 Weekdays 9:00-4:30 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 on the Route 20 side of the service stop. RMV vacy, we will not release it for publication.” Southbridge branch, which was located at the Spokesman Ann Dufresne offered no detail on NO INVESTIGATION Big Bunny plaza on Main Street. Residents STURBRIDGE 508-347-6463 how the plan would actually work. State Rep. Federal officials last week also denied they even circulated a petition to keep the Weekdays 8:30 – 5:00 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 Geraldo Alicea, D-Charlton, called for such a were investigating the RMV site, and a similar Southbridge office open. BRIMFIELD: 413-245-3451 measure last month, but last week said the facility in Natick, for possible violations of Since then, area residents and lawmakers Weekdays: 9:00 – 4:30 and Sat.