Mailed free to requesting homes in Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords 508-764-4325 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.WEBSTERTIMES.NET Friday, December 11, 2015 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE Bay Path celebrates end of renovation project CEREMONY ‘AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU’ “Let not thy will BY OLIVIA RICHMAN the cabinet shop and relocation of the roar, when thy power NEWS STAFF WRITER masonry shop. Many classrooms were can but whisper.” CHARLTON — State senators and also expanded. representatives visited Bay Path “The importance of the renovations Regional Vocational Technical High is that it will allow us to teach aca- Dr. Thomas Fuller School on Friday, Dec. 4, for the school’s demics, particularly science, in well- ceremonial ribbon cutting. The event equipped science labs,” explained marked the completion of the school’s Superintendent John Lafleche, “and $73 million addition/renovation project provide more training space for all 22 and allowed Bay Path to recognize the vocational areas.” EDITOR’S construction company Consigli, KBA Bay Path’s groundbreaking ceremo- Architects, Heery International and ny was in August of 2013, after a dis- OFFICE HOURS state officials who made the construc- trict-wide vote in October of 2012. It took MONDAYS 12-5 tion possible. one year to finish the addition and the Courtesy photos The $73 million addition/renovation new building opened in August of 2014. WEDNESDAYS 1-5 project included a brand new two-bay The Bay Path Student Council members were present for auto body spray booth, a spray booth in FRIDAYS 1-5 the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Please Read RIBBON CUTTING , page A13 INSIDE THE MOST WONDERFUL Seniors ................. A5 School officials TIME OF THE YEAR Learning .............A6 Viewpoint ............. A10 Sports ..................A12 to examine Obituaries ............. B2 Events Calendar ...... B3 Real Estate ........Sect.B strategic plan LOCAL plans are in motion to have an in-depth exam- ination of the strategic plan take place that will allow the district to reprioritize items in the document and maybe even add some new pri- orities to the list as the needs of the school and the education climate Jason Bleau photos change. In Oxford, Oxford High School students treated the crowd of spectators to a slew of “Around the month of classic Christmas tunes, providing fabulous renditions of the holidays songs we all know May of 2016 is going to and love. be the halfway point of this particular strategic plan, and we were think- Gregg Desto ing about the possibility Vendor fair of getting together in BY JASON BLEAU NEWS STAFF WRITER early march the three helps to ‘pay it sub committees that we DUDLEY — As have,” said Desto. “It’ll forward’ the Dudley-Charlton be for a half day or a full Page A3 Regional School day whatever it’s going District hits an import- to take, and really go ant point for its strate- through and look at the gic plan, school officials strategic plan which, are preparing to hold a at that time, will have LEARNING mid-point examination been written a year and of the plan next year to a half ago.” determine any changes Desto said the con- or additions that need cept of a halfway point Santa poses with a few local students who served as his helpers as he met with chil- to be made to the three- review for the doc- dren during Webster’s holiday celebration. year plan. ument was sparked Superintendent during conversations Last week rung in the holiday season in Webster, Dudley and Oxford, as Gregg Desto spoke to between himself and the three towns each held tree lighting ceremonies to start the season in ear- members of the district’s administrators from nest.For more photos from Webster, turn to page A7! For more from Dudley, School Committee in turn to page A8! For more from Oxford, turn to page A9! November and revealed Please Read PLAN, page A13 St. Joseph School Fire officials tout Robotics Team A new outlet for local advances to state tournament athletes is here holiday safety tips Page A6 BY JASON BLEAU decoration they display. NEWS STAFF WRITER Whether it’s Christmas MIDDLE candles or lights on the It’s the holiday sea- tree fire officials want son, and with Christmas, locals to know there are SCHOOL Hanukkah and other hidden dangers that are easy to avoid, all it takes SPORTS HOCKEY winter holidays all fall- ing in the same month, is knowledge and aware- TEAM IN decorations, lights and ness and a little common festive displays are pop- sense. BEGINNING ping up every day. In Dudley, Fire Chief As countless homes Dean Kochanowski STAGES prepare for the holidays touched on possibly the and work to show cheer most common fire threat BY OLIVIA RICHMAN Photo courtesy Brian Dubey that people may over- NEWS STAFF WRITER and pride in their beliefs The newly formed Dudley-Charlton Middle School and celebrations, local look, overloading out- DUDLEY/ hockey team. fire officials are asking lets to power countless CHARLTON — residents to be safe and Christmas or holiday Twenty middle school- aware as they rig up decorations in a single ers recently joined felt it was only right around here, or soccer, the lights and decorate location. the Dudley/Charlton for the students to and they get to wear the tree in the days and “Don’t overload plugs. Middle School hock- have the opportunity the jerseys to school. weeks to come. People like to plug 10 Shepherd Hill ey team and proudly to play for one team Everybody sees them,” Fire officials in things into one outlet wore their new jerseys and feel a sense of said Dubey. “These both South Central which isn’t meant to han- Winter Schedule to school. With many belonging. hockey players all play Massachusetts dling that many devic- children in the area “Most of these kids travel hockey. They and Northeastern es,” Kochanowski said. Page A12 interested in hockey have never been on a never really belonged Connecticut are asking “Whenever you leave the and playing on trav- team associated with to anything at a school. everyone to be smart and house I would make sure el hockey teams, team the school before. A safe when decorating and the lights are out. Never founder Brian Dubey lot of kids play football Please Read DC HOCKEY, page A15 to think safe this holi- day season with every Please Read SAFETY TIPS, page A15 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, December 11, 2015 www.webstertimes.net Special delivery LOCAL LEGISLATOR CONTINUES SOLDIER CARE PACKAGE TRADITION BY GREG BARLOW holidays, but don’t have that option. women who currently serve us,” said NEWS CORRESPONDENT This dilemma is reflected from a local Frost. “I can appreciate that and I don’t Thousands of soldiers around the perspective. want to take them for granted. They’re country would love to be home for the If you know any local members of doing something I’m not doing, and the military who they should be recognized, as this is the are stuck in a base toughest time of the year to be away far away from from home. It’s just nice to show they’re South Central being thought of by the community.” Massachusetts Since 1997 (when he was first elected), during the holi- Frost has personally sent care packages days, Rep. Paul K. for the holidays to current service men Frost (R-Auburn) and women from his district (Auburn, is going to want to Millbury, Precincts 2 and 3 in Oxford, know. and Precinct 4 of Charlton) who are 8x7-9x7 Steel Liftmaster 1/2 hp “I have it easy unable to spend the holidays with their 2 Sided Insulated here as far as families. Chain Drive being a citizen in Each year, he seeks the names of mili- Garage Door 7ft Opener this great country tary service men and women from these r-value 9.65 Inc, standard hardware & who can enjoy all towns who are stationed nationally or track, 8 color & 3 panel design options $270 its freedom and overseas during the holidays, and his $570 inc Installation holidays with my search process begins now. inc Installation price matching available on all written quotes family because On an annual average, he finds six. of the sacrifice of One year, 18 local service men and Paul Frost our veterans, and women benefited from his care pack- the sacrifice of the ages. He welcomes all members of any brave men and military branch in his district who will be away from home at the holidays. In his home, Frost solely prepares each package. Typically they consist of cook- ies, candies, chips, local newspapers, hol- iday cards, and a letter of grati- tude written by Frost. Recently, the Boy Scouts in Auburn have contributed to the care packag- es, writing let- ters and adding toiletries. “It’s just a token of appre- ciation,” said Frost. “It makes you feel good because it mat- ters to the folks who receive them.” Frost stresses the appreciation of each local mil- itary personal who receives a care package, as they commonly Turn To FROST page A8 ALMANAC QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We got support because the public, number one, knew that Bay Path was doing a good job with its students. More importantly, there was a keen sense that vocational education pro- vides students with high quality aca- demics at the same time that they have a vocation they can fall back on when they leave Bay Path.” - Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent John Lafleche, commenting on the sup- port behind the school’s recently com- DON’T pleted renovation project.