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Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. 3, No. 49 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET ‘Politics is like football; if you see daylight, go through the hole.’ Friday, December 4, 2009 Not guilty plea entered CHARLTON MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD RAPE AT STORE BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL NEWS STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — A 26-year-old Charlton man was being held on bail last week on charges of sexual- ly assaulting a minor at JCPenney, one of three places where he worked, according to the attorney representing him court. Francisco Wellington Barros- Gomes, of 81 J. Davis Road, Teresa A. Franco photo Charlton, faces a charge of inde- (Ryan Grannan-Doll photos) cent assault and battery on a child AUBURN — Shoppers at the Auburn Mall browse for sales on Black Friday, Nov. 27. Charlton Police Officer Derek Gaylord responds to 81 J. Davis Road, where Francisco under 14, and another count of Wellington Barros-Gomes, lives. He is accused of sexually assault a young boy at forcible rape of a child after police JCPenney is Sturbridge. said he sexually assaulted a young boy in the dressing room of the held behind a barrier, blocking him reached for comment last week Shoppers: Black Friday Route 131 discount store Tuesday from view of spectators and the about whether Gomes is in this night, Nov. 24. media. Metro said her client has no country legally. Judge Neil Snider entered a not prior criminal record. Picard said Barros-Gomes was guilty plea on Barros-Gomes’s Barros-Gomes is next scheduled working at JCPenney at the time of behalf during his arraignment to appear in court on Dec. 17. the incident a little before 6 p.m. slower than usual Wednesday morning at Dudley Court records indicate Barros- and allegedly committed the District Court. Snider set Barros- Gomes has been in the country for assault under the guise of helping Gomes’s bail at $25,000 cash and 10 months. He is, according to the boy try on clothes. Barros- MALL CUSTOMERS SHOP WITH EASE $250,000 surety bond, which the Assistant District Attorney Gomes, he said, was working in the defendant’s attorney said he could Shayne Picard, a Brazilian nation- children’s department when the ON NOTORIOUSLY BUSY DAY not post. Snider also ordered a pub- al and not a U.S. citizen. boy’s mother stepped away to make lic defender be assigned to him. Immigration and Customs a phone call, Picard said. Barros- At the request of his attorney, Enforcement (ICE) Spokesman BY TERESA A. FRANCO Treveloni, had also been at the mall Leah Metro, Barros-Gomes was Richard Rocha could not be Turn To PLEA, page A11 STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER since it opened, but not just to shop. AUBURN — There were a decent Ricci was working at Macy’s in the amount of shoppers at the Auburn mall the day of Black Friday. Mall the morning after She said she did not notice much Sturbridge loses dedicated town servant Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27, also of a difference in the amount of peo- known as Black Friday, the biggest ple shopping. Yet she said the morn- shopping day of the year — but the ing seemed to be “a little slow” but mall was not as crowded as one was “starting to pick up.” BILL MUIR ‘TRULY HAD THE COMMUNITY AT HEART’ would expect. The day is considered Ricci said she could not recall if BY GUS STEEVES very generous heart, to a fault manipulative.” a busy shopping day for the sales Macy’s had a dip in sales at last STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER almost,” said Veterans Agent Tom Muir was a common face at Town that many stores offer. year’s Black Friday,but said she did STURBRIDGE — Ask most people Chamberland. “…He truly had the Hall and government functions even MaryAnne Treveloni of not think there had been one. what stood out about William community at heart.” when not on the board in question. Worcester was a first-timer to the However, Ricci said she has seen Lawrence “Bill” Muir, and the one Those were words heard from peo- He was known to attend gatherings Black Friday shopping spree. She changes in the way people are shop- word that comes up unbidden is ple across the political spectrum in of both the Republican and said there was no particular reason ping. “dedicated.” town. Whether someone agreed Democratic town committees, con- she decided to give it a try this year. “I definitely notice a difference,” Muir, a develop- with Muir or not, they praised him certs on the common and other pub- The atmosphere of Black Friday, she said. “People are shopping for ment advocate and for his effort on behalf of lic events, but also put a in lot of she said, was not what she expected. more of what they need then what businessman who Sturbridge, his knowledge and his effort behind the scenes to promote “I thought it was going to be crazy they want.” served many years civility. trails — particularly working on the and busy,” she said, while taking a Even though Ricci was working on the Planning “Although we were philosophical- Hamant Brook property (he favored break in the food court. on Black Friday, she said she still Board, advocated ly opposed on many, many issues, keeping the dams, a view that ulti- Treveloni, who had been at the made some time to shop herself. She for veterans issues we liked each other and never had mately lost the town debate). store since it opened at 5:30 a.m., said she came in early for her shift and was a member harsh words,” said former Planning Former Selectman Charles said she was expecting long lines. because Macy’s had some good sales of the Public Lands Board member Tom Creeden. “… Blanchard observed that Muir was “I just went straight to the regis- she wanted to take advantage of. Advisory Bill was a good man, very dedicated “probably the [person] most famil- ters,” she said. “And now I’m just Ricci said she has not let the econ- William Committee, died to the town of Sturbridge and he iar” with the land the town bought having some lunch at 9 a.m.” omy effect how much she spends Lawrence Muir Sunday at age 80. was real. You knew him and where Sharon Ricci of Southbridge, like Turn To BLACK FRIDAY, page A11 “He was a terrific guy and had a he stood, and he was never, ever Turn To MUIR, page A11 Look for TA search continues the silver OFFICIALS VOICE CONFIDENCE lining IN SECOND EFFORT BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL the list down to three, if it is not STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER done prior. Shawn Kelley photo STURBRIDGE — Despite the con- “We have some really good candi- troversy enveloping two attempts to dates. I don’t think we will have any DUDLEY — The football find a new town administrator, com- problem picking the top three,” team may have had a dis- mittee members are brushing aside Ehrhard said. appointing Thanksgiving the idea of a third go-round. Ehrhard and Selectman Scott Day outinig vs. Shepherd The dismissals come as the Town Garieri, also a committee member, Hill (see coverage in Administrator Search Committee expressed confidence in the current Sports on Page A-14) But has completed interviews with 10 search. Ehrhard said that if resi- Tantasqua marching band candidates and soon plans to nar- dents remove the issue of Charles T. members Lydia Grossi, 17, row the pool to three choices to rec- Blanchard’s candidacy,then there is of Holland and Austin ommend to the Board of Selectmen. little to worry about. Comerford, 14, of The group plans to present three “There is absolutely no reason to Sturbridge shared a laugh finalists to selectmen Monday, Dec. start over,” Ehrhard said. “This during the game. See addi- 7, after narrowing the list to three or process has been as clean, as effi- tional photos, Page A-8. four on Wednesday, Dec. 2, accord- cient and transparent as it possibly ing to Search Committee Chairman could be. I do not think it has any James Ehrhard. The group is con- effect at all on the confidence the sidering meeting immediately before the Dec. 7 gathering to pare Turn To SEARCH, page A11 ALMANAC ..............2 LOCAL SPORTS POLICE LOGS ..........5 VILLAGER TRIVIA OPINION ..............10 NATIVE, AMERICAN FOGGY TURKEY This country supplies much OBITUARIES ..........13 SAYING THANKS DAY GAME of the world’s wool. SPORTS...............14 Answer on page 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 14 INSIDE CALENDAR ...........15 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, December 4, 2009 Burglaries on the rise in Charlton VILLAGER ALMANAC he said. A string of burglaries occurred during PIKE IS UNBELIEVABLE the summer, Dowd said. S ‘ ’ While there may be no individual motive for OPEN TO CLOSE BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL and documented so they can be tracked if the crimes, Pervier said many perpetrators STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER HOLLAND: 413-245-7108 stolen. They should also be safely secured in a may be selling stolen items for cash as they Mon – Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and CHARLTON — Police are warning residents locked safe, he said, along with any other valu- struggle to pay bills in a tight economy. To 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. to take preventive measures against falling vic- ables. Pervier said oftentimes people have make that goal easier, he said, most thieves tim to a recent spike in burglaries in town.

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