Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. II, No. 33 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, June 13, 2014 THIS WEEK’S District reels after QUOTE Rams charge to “Be a good listen- failed override er. Your ears will district title never get you in OFFICIALS SPEAK ON ‘WORST trouble.” MEETING IN SEVEN YEARS’ BY JOY RICHARD during the most recent Frank Tyger STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER School Committee meet- ing on May 27, officials NORTHBRIDGE — In voted to finalize $1.1 mil- the wake of the latest lion in cuts to the dis- INSIDE School Committee meet- trict’s 2015 budget, an ing, Northbridge Public action that resulted from A2-3— LOCAL School officials reflected the failure of the town’s last week on the major override request. A4-5— OPINION cuts planned for the 2014- Spitulnik said the A7— OBITUARIES 15 school year. cuts affected 21 teach- In a recent press ing positions, all mid- A9— SENIOR SCENE release form the district, dle school after-school A11 — SPORTS Jon Gouin photos Superintendent Dr. Nancy The 2014 Central Mass. Division 3 district champion Northbridge Rams show off that Spitulnik announced that Please Read OVERRIDE, page A8 B2 — CALENDAR they are No. 1. B4— REAL ESTATE B5 — LEGALS CARROLL PITCHES SHUTOUT IN ‘From one baseball NORTHBRIDGE VICTORY LOCAL BY JON GOUIN Northbridge High base- took a 3-0 win over sev- SPORTS CORRESPONDENT ball team on Saturday, enth-seeded Hudson shrine to another’ WORCESTER — June 7, their fifth High at Tivnan Field. It was another year straight such appear- It was Northbridge’s FUNDRAISING and another Central ance. This time around first district title since things went the home- 2010 when they went on Mass. district cham- RIDE FROM pionship game for the town team’s way, and to capture the Division the No. 5 seeded Rams 2 state championship WRIGLEY as well. The Rams, this time TO FENWAY around playing in Division 3, were led by MAKES LOCAL Amanda Collins photos senior co-captain Brian Cyclists were happy to be Carroll. He was mas- PIT STOP terful in firing a four- near the end of their more than 1,000 mile ride. hit shutout with five BY AMANDA COLLINS strikeouts en route to STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF the Henry Schueler 40 & 9 Church gives lifting Northbridge to WRITER Foundation and the Ignite victory. back through CHARLTON — Henry the Spirit bike team, many “That was the game “Hank” Schueler was an of them Chicago firefight- free lunch that I’ve been wait- athlete with the quite the ers, made a pit stop at the ing for him to pitch services arm, and before he died fire station in Charlton on for four years,” said at the age of 14 from leu- their 1,100-mile trek from Page A3 Northbridge head kemia, the baseball-lov- Wrigley Field to Fenway coach John Demagian ing boy from Chicago was Park. after the win. “He was an all-star shortstop and “We’re going from one fantastic. Well, he was LEARNING catcher. baseball shrine to anoth- fantastic at Nipmuc It’s fitting then, that a er,” said Hank’s dad, Matt too, but this was even recent fundraising bicy- Schueler. “He would have more special.” Northbridge’s Bryan Bedigian, left, and John Stone give cle ride in his honor loved this.” head coach John Demagian a Gatorade bath after the started and ended on the The cyclists left the victory. Please Read RAMS, page A12 field. On Friday, June 6, a group of 25 cyclists from Please Read RIDE, page A11 Regional stormwater coalition awarded CIC grant WES hosts BY CHELSEA DAVIS rate towns and led by said Charlton Town coalition applied for requested. spelling bee STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER the Town of Spencer, Administrator Robin $200,000 but only received “Each town was award- Page A10 was awarded the grant Craver. “It started out $80,000. ed $2,800 from the grant,” The Central in February to be used with 13 towns and we Spencer Town Gaudette explained. Massachusetts Regional towards stormwater added 17 towns in the last Administrator Adam “So, to fill the $120,000 SPORTS Stormwater Coalition management. round.” Gaudette said that in gap each town will pay has been awarded a “As you know, we Towns in the coalition order to make up for the $4,000.” Community Innovation have been in a consor- include Southbridge, $120,000, all of the coa- For Charlton, Craver Challenge Grant. tium for three years for Sturbridge, Northbridge, lition towns would be explained, the money to The coalition, which the CIC Storm Water Spencer, Auburn and putting in money to get is made up of 30 sepa- Management Grant,” Webster. This year, the back to the $200,000 they Please Read GRANT, page A15 MOVING ON The Class of 2014 said goodbye to our area high schools over the last couple weeks, and the Blackstone Valley Tribune was there to capture it all. For full coverage of graduations from Uxbridge High School, Northbridge High School and Douglas High School, check out next week’s Tribune! From one win to 12: Spartans’ softball reaches district semifinals Page A14 OPINION GET YOUR POINT ACROSS PAGE A4 Contact the Joy Richard photos Uxbridge High seniors Kerri Jones, Alex Janeson, Mary Boucher, and Katie Tribune editor Uxbridge graduates Luke Dederian, Julia Turgeon, Samantha Wise, Carey McDonnell smile as seniors for one last time before graduation Saturday, Twyman, Hollie Sokoloski, Gina Petrillo and Benjamin Brule pose for a at aminor@ May 31. stonebridgepress.com group shot. 2 • Friday, June 13, 2014 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE McKenna testifies against state’s TRIBUNE newest gun control efforts ALMANAC QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BOSTON — On Tuesday, June 3, can- didate for state representative Joseph McKenna (R-Webster) traveled to “I am disappointed. I have men- Boston to testify in front of the Joint tioned on several occasions, the meet- Committee on Public Safety in opposi- ing we had on [May 27] was the worst tion to H. 4121, “An Act Relative to the in the seven years I have been on the Reduction in Gun Violence.” committee.” This bill, filed on May 27, professes to be the culmination of the work of the - Northbridge School Committee Speaker’s Special Committee to Reduce Chairman Michael LeBrasseur, Firearm Violence. It contains 50 sec- commenting on a recent meeting in tions which enact changes ranging from which the committee had to make $1.1 requiring background checks to allow million in cuts to the 2014-15 budget someone to work at a gun dealer, to because of a failed override vote. expanding a police chief’s discretionary power over issuing federal permits to own rifles or shotguns. OPEN TO CLOSE McKenna, who arrived around 11 a.m., was one of the last in attendance to Northbridge Town Manager testify after 8 p.m. He spoke out against (508) 234-2095 the restrictions and regulations that tar- Northbridge Town Clerk get lawful gun owners and that he said (508) 234-2001 could leave people at risk if they’re Northbridge Middle School, Pleasant unable to defend themselves. Street, Whitinsville (508) 234-8718 “In campaigning throughout the 18th Northbridge Elementary School, 87 Worcester District I find that by a very Linwood Ave., Whitinsville (508) 234- wide margin the issue that I am asked Courtesy photo 5264 about most is the 2nd Amendment and Northbridge High School, Linwood the protection of constitutional rights to Webster resident Joseph McKenna speaks in front of the Joint Committee on Public Safety in opposition to H. 4121, “An Act Relative to the Reduction in Gun Violence.” Avenue, Whitinsville (508) 234-6221 bear arms,” said McKenna. “I felt com- Balmer School, Crescent Street, pelled to share not only my concerns firearms while intoxicated, the expan- that make sense to that end. However, Whitinsville (508) 234-8161 with this bill, but also those serious con- sion of programs for tracing guns used I feel that far too much if the bill enacts Grammar & Primary Schools, Cross cerns of the people who ask me to defend in crimes, and the State’s compliance greater and often arbitrary regulation, Street, Whitinsville (508) 234-6346 their rights every day.” with the National Instant Background restriction, and costs on those who own Special Education Department. 87 While opposing the overall legisla- Check system prior to selling firearms. firearms lawfully and who want to con- Linwood Ave. Whitinsville (508) 234- tion, McKenna did point out that there Added McKenna, “The overall mis- tinue to own lawfully. This sort of thing 8701 was value in many provisions of the bill. sion of this bill, which is universally wrongfully misplaces the blame for gun Douglas Town Manager Some positives include stiffer penalties supported, must be to reduce violence violence on innocent gun owners, and (508) 476-4000, ext. 101 for such crimes as armed home invasion and to keep guns out of the hands of crim- unfairly creates a stigma for those who Douglas Town Clerk and carjacking and the possession of inals, and there are some provisions would like to own firearms.” (508) 476-4000 Douglas Elementary School, Gleason Court, Douglas (508) 476-2154 ute. Calls will be returned with a time Douglas Intermediate School, 21 ‘Tags for Tails’ sale to benefit and location to drop your items. Limited Davis St., Douglas (508) 476-3332 pickup service is available within a rea- Early Childhood Center, 29 Depot St., disaster team sonable distance of Douglas for a $20 Douglas (508) 476-4034 donation. Special Education Department, 29 DOUGLAS — Have you started your Items CMDART can accept: Small Depot St., Douglas (508) 476-4035 spring cleaning? items of furniture (end tables, lamps, Uxbridge Town Manager Do you have a move planned and need framed pictures) in good condition, a great cause to donate your stuff to? Are books, CDs, jewelry, linens in nice condi- (508) 278-8600 you an expert at holding yard sales? tion, toys and games, tools (old and new), Uxbridge Town Clerk The Central Massachusetts Disaster household items, healthy plants (peren- (508) 278-3156 Animal Response Team (CMDART) will nials especially appreciated), dishes, pet Uxbridge High School, 300 Quaker hold its fifth annual “Tags for Tails” related items are especially appreciat- Highway, Uxbridge (508) 278-8633 yard sale June 21, 7 a.m.