Free by request to residents of Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, June 11, 2021 Old Sturbridge Village celebrates 75th anniversary STURBRIDGE — This week, Old Sturbridge Village encourage visitors throughout New England to visit (OSV), the largest living museum in New England, will and support the local businesses and organizations kick off a year-long celebration comprised of events hon- throughout the summer months. oring 75 years of historical interpretation, education, • Special commemorative items and re-creations inspiration and innovation. Known for its excellent made by OSV artisans. programming, OSV is certain to deliver events and In 1925, Old Sturbridge Village founder A.B. Wells experiences guaranteed to entertain and educate all began collecting “primitive” antiques that showed how everyday people lived a century before. He became enraptured with collecting these tools, sim- ple furnishings, and gadgets, and his collection pro- Grant supports liferated. A.B. dreamed of having a gallery to display his collection. In 1936, his son, George, convinced him to move beyond his hobby of collecting and Youth Opportunities dreaming of a gallery and working towards creating “a live village, one with different shops operating.” On June 8, 1946, Old Sturbridge Village opened to Unlimited program who participate. the public for the first time and welcomed eighty- BY KEVIN FLANDERS The calendar of events is comprised of new exhibits, one visitors. The Village has become a beloved STAFF WRITER programs, and interpretation for the coming year, con- staple of New England, expanding the resources, cluding with a formal gala in June 2022. Some of the REGION – The Worcester County District programming, and collection of the living museum planned activities and events include: Attorney’s Office recently received a state grant to over 250,000 annually in recent years. In 2017, Old • Exhibits at the Printing Office, Richardson House, to help juvenile offenders stay out of jail. Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School opened Fitch House, Gristmill, and the Blacksmith Shop. The $36,000 grant will allow Youth Opportunities in partnership with the Village, followed by a man- • New museum tours, which will provide an in-depth Unlimited, Inc. (YOU, Inc.) to continue its facil- agement agreement in 2020 with Coggeshall Farm look at how the Village came to be and how it has itation of the Juvenile Diversion Program. The Museum in Bristol, R.I. evolved over the past 75 years. program is run in partnership with Worcester Old Sturbridge Village has always been more than a • A new cabinetmaking shop will be installed in fall County District Attorney Joseph Early’s office. museum, and it continues to be an educational resource 2021, the first interpretative building to be added to the The program, the first of its kind in for exploring historical life in New England for all Village Common in over forty years. Massachusetts, allows juveniles charged with ages; inviting each visitor to find meaning, pleasure, • Publication of “New England on Parade” in partner- domestic assault to avoid detention and a criminal relevance, and inspiration through hands-on, real-life ship with author Jane Nylander, which will pair with record while helping the victimized family heal. encounters with artisans, interpreters, and craftspeo- an exhibit at the book launch on September 11. Participants will also have access to Recreation ple. • In conjunction with the Massachusetts Office Worcester programs, offering curriculum-based Anyone interested in staying up-to-date with the of Travel and Tourism Recovery Grant and the learning focused on athletics, arts, and academics. 75th-anniversary events should visit OSV's Web site, Sturbridge Group Tour Alliance, the Village will “We not only want to reduce crime, but resolve www.osv.org, Facebook, and Instagram. the underlying issues. This grant will offer case management, direct support, intervention, and referrals for services to address the unmet needs Sturbridge’s Emily Ellithorpe receives service award of the youth and their families,” District Attorney ALBANY, N.Y. — Emily Ellithorpe, a former Early said. Sturbridge resident and Tantasqua alum, has The program boasts a 90 percent successful been recognized with the Outstanding Student completion rate, with a recidivism rate under Service Award by the SUNY chapter of the New 5 percent. The pandemic has provided several York Water Environment Association (NYWEA). challenges, but program leaders have been able This award recognizes the involvement of a Student Member who promotes the New York Turn To GRANT, page A15 Water Environment Association on the high Amazon announces plans for Charlton warehouse Courtesy Emily Ellithorpe school level, student chapter level, professional chapter level, Association or Federation level. Courtesy Photo Ellithorpe is currently a junior at SUNY ESF An artist’s rendering of the proposed Amazon warehouse in Charlton. pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Resources Engineering with a minor in water resources. She BY JASON BLEAU approved the measure in a 119-19 vote. Amazon’s name has been a NYWEA member since her freshman CORRESPONDENT wasn’t used during the meeting, but it was implied, year but became more involved during her soph- CHARLTON – Charlton residents now have a defin- but never confirmed, to be the applicant. On June 1, omore year when she assisted with researching itive answer of the anonymous company seeking to the rumors were confirmed, and Amazon’s name was and writing the ESF student design competition build a substantial warehouse project at 53 Sturbridge officially attached to the project as Selectmen hosted team’s report for WEFTEC 2019. She attended the Rd. a reveal on the town’s Facebook page. The announce- 2020 Annual Conference in NYC for the first time Less than a month after voters overwhelmingly ment included a 45-minute conversation and presen- where she co-presented a poster based on ESF’s approved Article 17 on the Annual Town Meeting tation by Bluewater Property Group, a development 2019 WEFTEC SDC project, which won 1st place warrant that expanded the height limits of build- partner working with Amazon. in the student chapter competition. Inspired by ings in business enterprise park zones, the name Brad Griggs, a senior manager of Amazon’s eco- these experiences, Emily became the student of the company proposing a project that required nomic development team who leads the Northeast lead for a local stormwater management project the zooming amendment was finally unveiled on and Mid-Atlantic expansion effort of the company, on Nine Mile Creek. She now has the role of vice June 1. Amazon is proposing a 634,000 square -foot spoke on Amazon’s behalf and compared the project president of ESF’s NYWEA student chapter. In multi-level warehouse that would cost more than $300 to the North Andover facility. He explained that the this role, she has assisted in planning virtual stu- million. The project, billed as one of the larger types jobs provided would all start with benefits compa- dent activities such as the Women in Science and of Amazon project, called a robotic sortable facility, rable to his own in management with a minimum Engineering panel (WiSE) for which she was able would bring at least 1,000 jobs to the region according starting wage of $15 per hour. to engage panelists from a wide geographic area to estimates from Amazon representatives. “There’s the auxiliary benefits that come along (Washington DC, Portland OR) to participate. In April, the project was presented to town boards with a project of this size and the capital investment SUNY ESF’s current student chapter president, by law firm Fletcher and Tilton with the tenant from the different jobs, the indirect employment and Briana Fitzgerald, has cited Ellithorpe as “a point remaining unnamed. The lack of information about most of these numbers that we’re talking about right of sanity” for her in planning and executing stu- the tenant led both the Planning Board and Board of now where we’re at in our initial due diligence fazes dent chapter events as well as producing and edit- Selectmen to votes in separate 3-2 tallies against sup- related to this project are pretty conservative floors,” ing the student chapter newsletter. Ellithorpe is porting the proposed zoning change on the town meet- Griggs said. “These are conservative baseline num- eager to continue exploring new ways to network ings warrant on May 17, but voters overwhelmingly and learn in a virtual setting while also incorpo- Turn To AMAZON, page A15 rating hands-on activities when possible. 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, June 11, 2021 Joshua Hyde Library announces summer program STURBRIDGE — The Joshua Hyde one including Toe Jam Puppet Band and Main St. in Sturbridge to register. Joshua Hyde Library, the Friends of the Library is offering summer reading pro- Flying High Dogs! We are also delighted A complete list of activities and events Joshua Hyde Library, Massachusetts grams for children, teens, and adults. to host Deb’s Sing & Swing, movies, craft will be available on Facebook, our web- Library Association, Massachusetts This year’s theme is “Tails & Tails!” activities, story times, book clubs and page, your local newspaper, and at the Board of Library Commissioners, and the Our children’s program will offer three more. Online registration begins June library. Our summer reading programs Boston Bruins. Special thanks go to the ways to participate; teens and adults will 11; visit www.sturbridgelibrary.org and are free and open to the public. Our Sturbridge Cultural Council, Sturbridge have two. There will be plenty of great click on the registration link. You may thanks to the following for making our Rotary Club, and Whip-O-Will Stables of programs and entertainment for every- also call 508-347-2512 or visit us at 306 summer reading programs possible: The Dudley for their sponsorships.