Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. VI, No. 20 Complimentary to homes by request Friday, March 14, 2014 ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM THIS WEEK’S QUOTE End of the road for the Rams “If our early lessons SEASON COMES TO AN END of acceptance were AT THE HANDS OF ELLINGHAM as successful as our B early lessons of anger, BY NICK ETHIER seeded Northbridge High girls’ varsity bas- how much happier we SPORTS STAFF WRITER ketball team and No. 3 Bellingham High, it would all be.” WORCESTER — When all was said and was the game’s beginning and end that pro- done in the Central Mass. Division 3 district pelled the Blackhawks past the Rams, 58-42, tournament semifinal between the second March 5 at WPI’s Harrington Auditorium. Peter McWilliams “The beginning of the game was obviously not good when you’re down 23-4,” explained Northbridge head coach Matt Gauthier. “I thought we were going to get run right out INSIDE of the gym. I thought we were a little bit nervous and their student section was very A2-3— LOCAL organized and vocal, and it may have rattled David Dore photo us a little bit.” The cast of the Northbridge High School Drama Club production A4-5— OPINION Bellingham’s 20-4 lead after the first quar- of “Grease” is ready to bring the Broadway musical to life this A7— OBITUARIES ter and the fourth quarter advantage (20-9) weekend. was the difference. Northbridge won the A9— SENIOR SCENE combined second and third quarters by a A11 — SPORTS 29-18 mark. The Blackhawks (20-3) then won the dis- ‘Grease’ is the word A6 — CALENDAR trict title against No. 5 Tyngsborough (18-4), B SECT— REAL ESTATE and moved onto the state semifinals. Bellingham took control early by bring- this weekend in ECT EGALS B S — L ing the ball close to the basket, as evidenced by 6-foot-1 Kristen Swain’s back-to-back inside buckets, which gave the Blackhawks Northbridge LOCAL an early 11-4 advantage. Then, later in the frame, they went beyond the 3-point arc for points as Karina Saletnik (game-high 16 DRAMA CLUB TO BRING 1950S HIGH points) drained a trey to make it 20-4. Bellingham’s Sarah Edwards opened the SCHOOL LIFE TO NHS STAGE Nick Ethier photos second quarter with a 3-pointer to make Northbridge’s Sarah Boucher gets fouled while BY DAVID DORE “We always love to use bringing the ball to the basket. Please Read RAMS, page A11 STONEBRIDGE PRESS the talent of the cast, the STAFF WRITER students,” Wright said. NORTHBRIDGE — The Senior Zack Zolides will Northbridge High School play Danny Zuko, and junior Drama Club is taking a trip Jenna Hannon has been cast OLYMPIC SPIRIT back to the 1950s, with the as Sandy Dumbrowski. clothes and hair to match, in “I feel very blessed to have DOUGLAS — In the spirit of the Olympics, kindergartners at the Douglas Early this weekend’s production my role,” Hannon said. “I’m Childhood Center recently participated in their very own Winter Games, and they of the hit Broadway musical very lucky. It’s been an awe- all took home gold medals. For more photos, turn to page 8! Amanda Collins photos “Grease.” some experience being in The whole crew — Drama, and being Sandy is Mystery including Danny Zuko, a dream come true.” Sandy Dumbrowski, Rizzo, Zolides said Friday, Pictures by Frenchie and Kenickie — March 7 he was feeling good from the Rydell High School about the show as practices Ralph True Sr. Class of 1959 will be there near their end and show- Page A5 starting at 7 p.m. Friday, time approaches. March 14 and 2 p.m. and “The more we do it, the 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 more positive I feel,” he said. LEARNING in the Northbridge High There are 36 students School auditorium. (including 15 seniors) in the “It’s just an energetic pro- cast and crew, along with duction, a lot of roles for a handful of adults helping the kids,” said show director the student crew members. Rebecca Wright, adding that Student choreographer William Higgins, 6, is quite A group of kindergarten girls proudly hold up their gold medals. some of the students in the Allie Driscoll is working excited to be an Olympian. show “have never been in a play before.” Please Read GREASE, page A13 So hard to say goodbye LOCAL LEGION RIDERS HONOR LOCAL Boston Bruins support summer reading in Douglas GUARD COMPANY BEFORE DEPLOYMENT Page A10 BY JOY RICHARD According to Brennan’s mom and STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Quinebaug, Conn. resident Elizabeth Neylon, the function will go to support REGION After more than a year working, training not only the soldiers, but also their fam- and living side-by-side, one Army National ilies. She said the riders and the Post 58 Guard husband and wife duo will have to American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, of say goodbye as their company deploys and which she is a member of, will be collect- leaves one of them behind. ing supplies for area troops to send over- Whitinsville residents and Guard spe- seas during their 10-month mission. cialists Brennan and Brittany Neylon, 23 To add to these care packages, residents and 26, respectively, met over a year ago can send or drop off donations at 227 Main through their Guard unit in the 379th St., Oxford, 01540, c/o the Legion Riders. Engineering Company and now they will Elizabeth said her son and daughter-in- Courtesy photo have to leave each other for the first time, law not only serve together, but work as United States National Guard specialists and spouses Brennan with Brennan deploying to Afghanistan EMTs on the same ambulance through the and Brittany Neylon, 23 and 26, respectively, of Whitinsville, this spring. Vital EMS, a private ambulance company seen here in a recent photo, will separate for the first time To mark the company’s deployment, the out of Worcester. when Brennan leaves for active duty later this spring. The Oxford American Legion Riders will hold She added that the deployment will be Oxford American Legion Riders will hold a send off party for Happy birthday, a send off party at the Main Street Legion even harder for the pair, as Brittany is the Massachsuetts Army National Guard 379th Engineering hall on Saturday, March 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. Please Read GUARD, page A7 Company on Saturday, March 15. Tyler Page A3 Local athletes to move their feet to support NEF OPINION BY JOY RICHARD to kick off the new year of The event will be held on than 80 people signed up. chance to think about spe- GET YOUR STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER fundraising for the group he Saturday, March 29, and will Runners will be asked to cial units and activities that POINT ACROSS NORTHBRIDGE — It’s has been a part of since 2007, start at Northbridge High contribute $20 and walkers they can bring to their class- PAGE A4 not about crossing the fin- adding that a new fundrais- School at 9 a.m. Registration are asked to donate $10. rooms that are not necessar- ish line for Northbridge 5K er, the 5K, has grown each will begin at 7 a.m. Speaking with ily funded through the bud- runners, but supporting year, much to his delight. Brown said last year the Northbridge get,” said Spitulnik. “It is a the Northbridge Education Brown said now in group hosted 210 walkers Superintendent Dr. Nancy chance to be creative and Contact the Foundation and the grants its third year, the walk/ and runners and he said he Spitulnik, it was clear that work together on something Tribune editor it will fund. run would support the hopes to bring in at least 250 like Brown, she is passion- special.” at aminor@ Northbridge Educational many grants given by the this year. ate about the Foundation She added that this school Foundation President Larry Education Foundation to Early registration is and what it offers to the year teachers saw seven stonebridgepress.com Brown said he is excited schools throughout the dis- already underway at whole district. trict. Racewire.com with more “It gives teachers a Please Read NEF, page A13 2 • Friday, March 14, 2014 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Cub Scout Pack 134 holds Blue & Gold Banquet TRIBUNE DOUGLAS — On Saturday, March 1, the ALMANAC Cub Scouts from Douglas Pack 134 held their Blue & Gold Banquet. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK The Blue & Gold Banquet is the high- light of the scouting year. It brings families together for an evening of fun, food, songs, “The beginning of the game skits, and recognition. The theme of the was obviously not good when Pack’s Blue & Gold was, “Celebrate the Magic of Scouting.” you’re down 23-4. I thought we The evening began with a blessing by were going to get run right out Father Ernie Allega, pastor of St. Denis of the gym. I thought we were a Church, and a delicious meal, catered by Brian’s Restaurant. The festivities contin- little bit nervous and their stu- ued with a very special rendition of the dent section was very organized Pledge of Allegiance, as well as songs per- formed by the entire pack. and vocal, and it may have rat- Special guests in attendance included tled us a little bit.” Sen. Richard T. Moore and Rep. Ryan C. Fattman. Moore spoke to the scouts about the importance of scouting and recognized - Northbridge High School girls’ varsity the Pack’s Arrow of Light recipients with basketball coach Matt Gauthier, congratulatory letters.