'We Have Lost an Outstanding Leader, Educator and Friend'
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. IV, No. 34 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, May 27, 2011 ‘We have lost an outstanding leader, educator and friend’ FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES REMEMBER RICE BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY TRIBUNE STFF WRITER NORTHBRIDGE — The town of Northbridge mourned the loss recently of one of the most dedicat- ed educators and athletes of the last generation. Courtesy photos Dr. James M. Rice, PhD., a former A 20-year retrospective of the work of Robert Barsamian, inset, is currently on display at the Holocaust Memorial Center coach, teacher and administrator in Zekelman Family Campus in Farmington Hills, Mich. the Northbridge school system, passed away on Saturday, May 7 after a battle with cancer. At only 49 years old, Rice will be James M. Rice sadly missed by his wife and three children, though the memories he Robert Barsamian: Still searching left and the impact he had on the the football field. entire community will not soon be Kenneth LaChapelle, head coach forgotten. ORTHBRIDGE NATIVE TELLS STORY OF HIS PEOPLE WITH ART of the Northbridge football team, N A lifelong resident of considers himself to be fortunate Whitinsville, Rice’s dedication and for having the opportunity to not BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY A 20-year retrospective of Barsamian’s installation determination to succeed in every- only coach Rice, who graduated TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER art is currently on display, through July, at the thing he did was infectious, which from NHS in 1980, but to have was evident in the classroom and on FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Twenty years is a Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Turn To RICE page A15 long time for most things. Campus in Farmington Hills, Mich. It is a long time to hold one job, or stay in one apart- Barsamian’s exhibit is titled, “Searching for the ment. Twenty years is an awful long time to hold Answer.” onto a car, or look after a pet. But 20 years might as Referred to by many Armenians as the Great well be 20 seconds when trying to wrap one’s head Crime, the genocide that has become the focal point around the often-unthinkable atrocities toward of Barsamian’s work was one element of a larger Local artist colors his mankind that take place during the attempted exter- campaign by the Ottoman Empire to rid its territory mination of a people. of certain sects of people following World War I. That pursuit — to make the world understand and It is estimated that up to 1.5 million Armenians acknowledge the pillaging of his culture — that has were killed during the campaign. audience terrified fueled artist Robert Barsamian over the last 20-plus Many pieces of Barsamian’s work feature similar elements, like religious iconography representing years. BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Originally from Northbridge, though now residing the spirit and culture of the Armenian people; ani- TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER in Texas, Barsamian has spent much of professional mals like wolves and wild dogs, to personify the career as a visual artist focusing on the various Turkish soldiers; and two women, seen throughout NORTHBRIDGE — Move over aspects of the Armenian genocide, which took place R.L. Stine, there’s a Northbridge native angling to become the new from 1915-1923. Turn To BARSAMIAN page A16 name in preteen horror/suspense stories. Graphic artist-turned-author Eric Mateer, a 2006 graduate of Northbridge High School, recently Voters OK capital funds, nix Prop. 2 1/2 override released his first book, “Color Me Terrified,” even though his artistic BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY chase of a new fire truck valued at Northbridge home, valued at expertise has typically been more TRIBUNE STAFFF WRITER $460,000; a dump truck valued at $171,000 would see an addition of visual than literary. NORTHBRIDGE — With no con- $160,000; and a tractor valued at $24.50 per quarter for one year. A The 10-chapter story tells the tale tested races on the ballot this year, $135,000. larger home, D’Amato said, valued of two youngsters in suburban there were no real surprises in the That vote was approved with a at $371,000 would see an increase of Pennsylvania who stumble upon a annual town election when it came 475-296 vote. $50.50 per quarter for one year. century-old mystery inside an aban- to vacant seats, though the ballot Because the purchase of the three The second ballot question was doned mansion looming on a hill questions we split 50/50 with one vehicles is a capital expenditure seeking approval of a Proposition 2 above their town. receiving approval, the other, rather than a debt exclusion, the 1/2 override, which have allowed the A lifelong fan of the suspense and denial. cost of $755,000 will be assessed to town to borrow $5 million to begin a horror genres, Mateer said that Both ballot questions were the the town through property taxes for road repair and reconstruction proj- while he plans to continue writing Christopher Tanguay photo required follow-up votes taken at the only one year instead of 10 or 20 like ect on municipally owned roads. and publishing more stories, the Northbridge artist and author Eric Annual Town Meeting. most long-term debts. At Town Meeting, Director of the draw to him of the craft was not the Mateer with a copy of his recently pub- The first of the two questions was At the Town Meeting, Chairman Department of Public Works actual writing, but the artistic outlet lished book “Paint Me Terrified.” a request for approval of a capital of the Finance Committee Salvatore expenditure of $755,000 for the pur- D’Amato explained the average Turn To OVERRIDE page A15 Turn To ARTIST page A16 Douglas students try to ‘Save the Plants’ SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAY EXPANDS TO INCLUDE FOURTH GRADERS BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY “It’s the special education kids peers are very powerful.” TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER and a small group of fourth- McGrath said preparing for this DOUGLAS — On Tuesday, May graders we opened it up to, to par- year’s production was a bit chal- 17, students from the Douglas ticipate,” explained ABA therapist lenging, but only because the Intermediate Elementary School Charlene Hammond, who works severe winter weather put a took to the stage and encouraged in the school’s Special Education damper on the rehearsal schedule. people to “Save the Plants.” Department. McGrath said students began “Save the Plants” was the fourth Teacher Errion McGrath said working on the play back in annual production put on by the the shift came as “the dynamics of October, but that she had preemp- school’s Special Education the building changed,” leaning tively scheduled most rehearsals Department. more towards inclusion, rather for Wednesday afternoons. It just While in years past, the cast of than separation. so happened that the bulk of the the production would be made up “We thought it would be good to snowfall received over the winter solely of special education stu- have peer models,” Hammond fell on Tuesday nights and Christopher Tanguay photos dents, this year’s play was a little said. Wednesday mornings, resulting a A musical number in the garden had everyone from the plants to the insects singing different. McGrath agreed, saying, “The along. Turn To STUDENTS page A13 A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A7 ....................... CALENDAR A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A9 ..........................SENIORS CONTACT THE TRIBUNE EDITOR AT A6 .................................... OBITUARIES A10 ........................... SPORTS AMINOR STONEBRIDGEPRESS COM INSIDE @ . 2 • Friday, May 27, 2011 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE News and Notes from Around the Region BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Northbridge soccer stars; the Color Guard branches of the armed forces in their 15th TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER from Blackstone Valley Detachment 911 of the annual Memorial Day celebration. With Memorial Day coming this Monday, Marine Corps League; and the Douglas High “Fifteen years ago, we noticed that kids here is a schedule of some of the local obser- School Marching Band. were not even sure why they were having a vances of the holiday. Songs and poems will be performed by local three day weekend in May,” said Sheila Haigh, There will be two observances in students, and the names of Northbridge vet- founder of the program at Douglas Northbridge, in the Whitinsville and erans killed in action during the Civil War, Elementary.“Most thought it was time to open Rockdale sections of town respectively. World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the pool and enjoy a prelude to summer.” On Friday, May 27, Flags will be placed on and Beirut, Lebanon will be read. This year’s service will include a reading of veteran graves at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery at In the event of rain, services will be held in the Gettysburg Address and a tribute to veter- 5 p.m. the Town Hall. ans of all ages, including World War II vets At 8:30 on Monday morning, people will In Uxbridge, the Flying Squadron will con- nearing 100-years-old. gather at Riverdale Cemetery to salute tinue their 137-year tradition by visiting stu- deceased veterans. A salute will also be given dents in Uxbridge towns throughout the day OTHER SCHOOL NEWS at St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 27. On Wednesday, June 1, fifth grade students A ceremony will begin on the Rockdale On Sunday,May 29, a veterans service mass at Northbridge Elementary School will host a Common at 11:30 a.m., featuring musical per- will be said at the Church of the Nazarene on guest speaker named Marika Barnett.