(508) 943-4800 Newsstand: 75 cents www.auburnnews.net Saturday, March 30, 2013 THIS WEEK’S Auburn News QUOTE “When the heart moving to Fridays! speaks, the mind AUBURN — The Auburn News, your source for week- finds it indecent ly, local news, is moving to object.” from Saturday publication to Fridays, starting with Milan Kundera next week’s edition on Friday, April 5. All of our deadlines concerning calen- dar entries, obituaries, advertising, letters to the INSIDE editor and all other submis- sions remain unchanged. The only thing changing is CALENDAR ..............B1 the day of delivery! If you have any questions, do not OPINION ................A6 hesitate to call Editor Adam SENIORS ................A8 Minor, at 508-909-4130, or e- mail aminor@stonebridge- OBITUARIES ............A9 press.com. See you in your SPORTS................A10 mailbox next Friday! Thanks for reading the Gus Steeves photo Auburn News! LOCAL Michael Errickson, of Diversified Technology Consultants, talks about some of the changes involved in the Bay Path renovation project. A hopping good time Bay Path commences planning hearing ROJECT AIMS TO START THIS SUMMER Boys Date Night P Page A3 BY GUS STEEVES and where water flows off the hill. STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Architect David McKinley of Kaestle-Boos CHARLTON — Bay Path Regional Associates is hoping the process is quick. SPORTS Vocational Technical High School’s $73 mil- “We’d like to go out for an early bid pack- lion renovation and expansion project kicked age if we can, to make use of the summer,”he off it’s public hearing Wednesday, March 20, said, referring to the fact the school wants to before the Planning Board. start preparatory work, including building a Although most people are interested in the new access road and obtaining the steel, fact the plans call for building multiple new before the kids return in September. classrooms, expanding labs and shops, and Town Planner Alan Gordon expects it’ll go adding a library, among other internal proetty queickly. things, those are technically not under the “You’ve kept me up to date on it,” he said. board purview. Since it’s technically a “site “I know you’re up to your elbows in it.” plan review” not requiring outright approval He noted the town’s peer reviewer, Graves (schools are legally allowed in most zones), Engineering, has had far fewer comments they’re getting into the details of how the parking works, what the facade looks like Please Read BAY PATH, page A7 The Hanna Family, from Dudley, with 6-year-old Ariana and 2- Winter Recap Debt exclusion vote to appear on ballot year-old Abigail, posing with their Easter Bunny creations. Page A10 MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT IN TAXPAYERS’ HANDS LEARNING BY JOY RICHARD of the option. Building Authority’s STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER He said the two other choic- (MSBA)] list.” AUBURN — With the es were a Proposition 2 1/2 Lourie said falling to the choice in taxpayer hands, override, which would per- bottom of the MSBA’s list local officials reacted this manently raise taxes, or tak- would really affect funding week to the choice of a debt ing money from the levy, for the $44,575,234 as current- exclusion as the proposed which he and Auburn Chief ly the state is offering an method of payment for the Financial Officer Edward approximate 60 percent reim- future Auburn Middle Kazanovicz stressed would bursement rate. School. also change the tax rate for According to In a 4-1 vote in favor, select- residents in the same way. Superintendent Maryellen men agreed Monday, March “I will also say that either Brunelle, based off of a 20- 25, that voters should have way, whether it is excess levy year borrowing average and a the opportunity to weigh in capacity, or it is a debt exclu- single-family, property evalu- on the option of a debt exclu- sion, people’s taxes are going ation of approximately sion, or 20-year tax increase to go up by the same dollar $22,000 the first-year cost to Young at Heart payment method, for the amount,” said Lourie on residents would be $46.30. Wednesday, March 27. “We The second year would be building project. The Duanys family, from Worcester, with mom Jessica and 9- Page A4 A final project presentation have never dipped into that. I $52.34 and “the projected cost year-old LaDaysha, 7-year-old Emara and 5-year-old Ayden mak- was made to the board on don’t see us dipping into that. for years three, through 20 ing Easter arts and crafts. Monday, and during a follow- I don’t have a crystal ball, but would be $177.16.” up interview School if this vote doesn’t go “I don’t want to see this Photos courtesy Auburn Mall Committee Chairman Jeffery through on Tuesday, May 21, middle school project turn OPINION AUBURN — On Saturday, March 23, Auburn Mall hosted Snack Lourie said not only did his and Tuesday, May 7, through into the high school project,” Time with the Easter Bunny, and Simon Kidgits Club members GET YOUR committee agree on the debt Town Meeting, my under- said Lourie. “Where it took so and their parents “hopped” on down to the food court and had standing is that we would go many years, and it cost so POINT ACROSS exclusion method, but the a snack with the Easter Bunny himself. After breakfast, kids par- to the bottom of the Finance Committee also ticipated in an Easter Egg Hunt and Easter arts and crafts. PAGE A6 voted unanimously in favor [Massachsuetts School Please Read DEBT, page A7 WHAT TO DO A CALENDAR OF AREA EVENTS Fresh Air Fund seeking hosts in local area PAGE B1 BY GUS STEEVES on Mars. so many kids who don’t get to stay with them again this “amazed by all the grass” in STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER That’s why the Fresh Air the chance to [participate],” summer. the Leonards’ yard, excited For those of us who have Fund exists. Since 1877, it has said Auburn’s Sherri “You get to know them real- by road trips (at home, she lived in this area most or all been sending city kids away Leonard. “What matters are ly well. They become part of goes places by bus), enjoys of our lives, the idea that peo- for a couple weeks in the sum- the memories you create and the family,” Leonard said. the pets and nearby frog pond ple have never gone swim- mer, initially because NYC the experiences you give “We’re very outside people, and has decided she “doesn’t ming, seen wildlife or walked was experiencing a TB epi- them. It’s not like you’re and since she comes from the like the bugs at all,” Leonard on trails seems almost unbe- demic but now simply to babysitting for a week.” city, we felt we’d be a good said. lievable. expose them to another Leonard’s family has been chance to do new things.” Sturbridge’s Rachel Amaru But for those in the dense aspect of life. a Fresh Air Fund host for the Indeed, one or two weeks a said her “summer son” parts of New York City, all of “I hope more people will do last three years, and plans to year has exposed Aliyah to a 6 56525 10391 9 those things might as well be it this year, because there are invite the same girl, Aliyah, bunch of things. She’s Please Read FUND, page A7 2 • THE AUBURN NEWS • Saturday, March 30, 2013 A ‘football’ fundraiser ALMANAC QUOTE OF THE WEEK LOCAL SOCCER CLUB TO TRAVEL TO U.K. “As we move through this process I continue to appreci- BY JOY RICHARD STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER ate the support this project OXFORD — Its not just a sport has received. I am hopeful — it’s a way of life. that this project will be sup- This is especially true for one of Oxford’s foremost soccer clubs, ported by the Auburn com- Liverpool FSC, who hope to make munity, providing Auburn their way back to England this summer to take part in several Middle School students with training sessions and matches a state-of-the-art facility for with the world-renowned players decades to come.” and coaches of its parent team, Liverpool FC. - Superintendent Maryellen Brunelle, com- The boys and their coaches will menting on the ongoing Auburn Middle be holding their first fundraiser School project. for the trip, which is in its second year, at the Oxford American Legion hall on Saturday, April 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will be a beer and wine tasting with addi- OPEN TO CLOSE tional raffles and silent auctions. AUBURN TOWN HALL The evening will also feature a Neil Young photo gallery and HOURS: state sports memorabilia show- Courtesy photo Monday . .8 a.m. to 7 p.m. case. Tuesday-Thurs. .8 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to Liverpool FSC The Oxford-based Liverpool FSC team poses for a group shot earlier this year. The club, which was founded in 2003, will parent and Sutton resident Craig host an upcoming beer and wine tasting at the Oxford American Legion hall on Saturday, April 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., to sup- Friday . .8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Acocelli, tickets for the event are port the team’s upcoming trip to England. Board of Selectmen (832-7720) $20 prior to the event or $25 at the Town Clerk (832-7701) door.