Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. V, No. 22 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM Friday, June 3, 2011 Memorial Day shines in Charlton Clarence Bachand plays “Taps” Sunday, May 29. On Monday, a Cub Scout remembers those who served in the Marines (others did the same for the other branches). CHARLTON — Memorial Day activities spread out over an GUS entire week in Charlton, as residents gathered at several events STEEVES — at Overlook last Wednesday, May 25, (see page 4), at Heritage PHOTOS School Friday,May 27, at St. Joseph Church Sunday,May 29, and finally, with a parade and ceremony Monday, May 30. For more photos, turn to page A8! Auxiliary member Ruth Duhamel and Al Sergel lay a wreath on the World War I/II monument. Dylan and Christopher Snow watch the parade pass by on Monday. Grace House announces closing BY GUS STEEVES do something else with it in VILLAGER STAFF WRITER the future, but the board of SOUTHBRIDGE — Local directors has not yet consid- people in crisis are losing ered what that might be. another layer of the social “We made the decision now safety net at the end of June, because we’ve been looking at when the family homeless the long-term sustainability of shelter Grace House closes. the program,” she said. “We “We looked at what we spent didn’t want to spend all the last year first quarter, and we money, and want to maintain realized we weren’t going to our equity in 11 Sayles St. … have enough to get through There are many options on this first quarter,” said the table; we just haven’t had Director Laura Kaplan. “… those conversations yet.” We didn’t have enough physi- To Rev. Paul Campbell, pas- cal community buy-in, and tor of St. Anthony of Padua didn’t have enough time to Church in Dudley, the closing raise the money.” leaves a big hole in the com- Courtesy photo The agency running it, munity’s ability to help poor This year is the first for the Fighting Irish Relay For Life team, which was formed Family Promise of Southern people. largely in memory of Beth Dion’s mother, Marialyce Dalena, who died of cancer. Worcester County (formerly “We’re pretty sorry to see it From left, Maggie, Rory and Beth Dion and Donna Olson outside of Donna’s art stu- the Southbridge Interfaith go. It provided a probability dio and store. Hospitality Network), will for people to get back on their still exist, keep the Gracie’s feet … and was a benefit for Attic recycled shop running, children to stay in one place, and is still seeking a consult- Turn To SHELTER page A14 ant to study the possibility of Putting up a fight buying other homes to con- vert into affordable apart- ments. Kaplan said they plan to hold on to the house itself Laura Kaplan holds the son of one against cancer in the hopes of being able to of Grace House’s temporary ten- ants on the porch last summer. Fighting Irish Relay team has ‘FIGHTING IRISH’ teamed up with Donna Olson, who owns Designs By Donna Art RELAY TEAM Studio, to raise money for the Board of Selectmen revisits income ideas event. TURNING TO “We are selling dream catchers BY GUS STEEVES David Singer, “but we’ve already lost Treasurer Keith Arsenault said he UNIQUE at Donna’s shop and will be having VILLAGER STAFF WRITER 10-20 years or more [of taxes] on has been working on that with a tag sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday [May 29] to raise money for CHARLTON — In their latest some of these properties.” Assessor Deb Ceccarini, trying to FUNDRAISERS the Relay,” said Beth Dion, of the perusal of ways to enhance rev- He’s referring to the long list of come up with a legal way to “control Fighting Irish. “We’re going to be enues, selectmen and Finance parcels the town has taken for non- the bidding so we get the best return BY ADAM T. SILVA selling candy apples, chocolate cov- Committee members seem to be lean- payment of taxes and/or owned out- for the town.” Their idea at present is STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER ered pretzels at the Relay and ing toward selling town land or leas- right, many of them small. He said to go through a “request for propos- CHARLTON — The Fighting painting faces too. And most of all, ing it for solar projects, seeking pay- he’s particularly interested in trying al” process rather than a simple auc- Irish are finding their own unique we are having our raffle at the ments in lieu of taxes from local non- to entice neighbors of such parcels to tion, and they plan to present some- way to raise money for this year’s Relay.” profits, and pursuing old driveway buy them on the grounds that they thing detailed in a month or two. Southbridge Relay For Life. Their raffle is for “Fall in the bonds. might choose to expand their homes But, Arsenault said, such sales will In their first year taking part in Berkshires,” where winners will “I know the economy will turn or otherwise add things that will fundraising for the Relay, the around,” said Selectmen Chairman bring in more taxes. Turn To SELECTMEN page A14 Turn To RELAY page A14 LEGION PAYS RAMS, WOOLIES TAKE Almanac ................. 2 Learning.................11 Obituaries ...............9 Calendar .................9 TRIBUTE TO OVERLOOK SWCL TRACK Police Logs .............11 Real Estate ...B Section VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIPS INDEX INDEX Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 12-13 PAGE 4 PAGE 12 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, June 3, 2011 www.charltonvillager.com Durant says he’ll stay on Board of Selectmen BY DAVID DORE pens,” he later told Stonebridge are also selectmen, such as fellow judge declared the November con- include per diem reimbursements of STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Press. “Certainly I don’t want to do rookie Ryan Fattman of Sutton, and test between Durant and Alicea a tie. $10 to $100 for each day a legislator is SPENCER — The state’s newest this job if I can’t do it properly.If the see how they deal with holding two Durant also said he would send a at the State House or bonuses for state representative, Peter Durant, board feels that it’s not working out, positions. letter to Town Clerk Jean Mulhall chairmanships. said earlier this week he would stay or I feel that I’m not doing the job Durant won a special election ear- stating he is declining his $1,000 Durant thanked his fellow select- on the Spencer Board of Selectmen justice, then I will certainly resign.” lier this month to represent the 6th annual salary as a selectman while men “for the past year and a half until he or his colleagues feel he can The other selectmen — Anthony Worcester District, which includes he is also on Beacon Hill. now” that he was on the campaign no longer effectively do the job. Pepe, Gary Woodbury, Chairman the eastern half of Spencer, East “I think it’s only fair I don’t take trail. “You guys have been fantastic, “At this time I will say that my Donald Berthiaume Jr. and newest Brookfield, Charlton, Southbridge any pay as I continue on the board,” and you guys have picked up a lot of intention is not to become a burden member Robert “Bo” Fritze Jr. — and one precinct in Oxford. Running he explained. “I don’t think it’s prop- the slack I left behind.” to this board,” Durant announced at indicated they wanted Durant to as a Republican, Durant topped er.” the May 23 selectmen’s meeting. “I remain on the board. He has one Democrat incumbent Geraldo According to the Boston Herald’s David Dore may be reached at (508) certainly want to continue.” year left on his term. Alicea and independent candidates online state payroll database, the 909-4140, or by e-mail at ddore@stone- “At this time, we’re just going to Durant said he hopes to speak Peter Boria and Robert Cirba. The starting salary for state representa- bridgepress.com. play it by ear and see what hap- with other state representatives who special election was needed after a tives is $61,133. That does not ‘People end up getting hooked’ BY ADAM T. SILVA and someone finally convinced me to have it in Relays. He has more rea- STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Southbridge — which was a great idea.” son than ever to give the SOUTHBRIDGE — The Southbridge Relay Nearly all Relays have three events in com- Relay his all, as his moth- For Life has come a long way. mon — a welcome lap, where all teams walk a er died of cancer just over The Relay, now in its 14th year, started in lap together holding their banners, a survivor a year ago. In most of the Southbridge in 1998. Teams are formed and lap, where all survivors of cancer are celebrat- past few years, he and the each team member is responsible for raising ed and walk a lap, and the luminary ceremony, Hedgehogs have brought money for cancer research. The Relay, which where candles are placed inside bags filled in roughly $20,000 each is held at McMahon Field at Southbridge High with sand with the names of those lost to can- year. School, takes place on Friday,June 17 and goes cer and takes place after dark.