Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. V, No. 9 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM ‘We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.’ Friday, March 4, 2011 RACE FOR THE 6TH Democrats have primary battle? POWELL LEAVES DA’S OFFICE JOB FOR CAMPAIGN BY GUS STEEVES Dudley-Charlton Regional School VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Committee member and, until CHARLTON — Friday, Feb. 25, outreach person for Joanne Powell is the Worcester district attorney’s so sure she has a office took out papers to challenge strong enough incumbent Geraldo Alicea in the 6th chance to become Worcester District’s Democratic pri- state representa- mary April 15. That makes Powell tive that she quit the fifth potential candidate, but the her job to run. first to make any of the party pri- Joanne Powell The former Turn To POWELL page A11 Boria decides to run as independent pick CHARLTON SELECTMAN SAYS IS ‘DEFINITELY IN THE RACE’ BY GUS STEEVES the window of opportunity, I VILLAGER STAFF WRITER thought I’d pull papers to run,” said CHARLTON — Selectman Peter Boria, who is eye- Shawn Kelley photos A fourth possible ing an independent bid. state representa- On Monday,Feb. 28, he said he was SLEIGHTS OF HAND tive candidate in the process of turning in papers may throw his in both Southbridge and Charlton CHARLTON — The Charlton Arts and Activities hat in the ring for and is “definitely in the race.” He Center hosted a magic show with Bugs the the re-run 6th did not yet have a platform. Clown Thursday, Feb. 24, during February school Worcester The deadline was the next day, vacation. Peter Boria District race. Tuesday,March 1. As things current- For more photos, please turn to Page A8. “Before I missed Turn To BORIA page A11 Contest Legislator looks to legalize marijuana aims to making growing specifically exempts the stalks, sterile seeds CHARLTON MAN BUSTED that plant legal. and those under 0.5 percent THC, and fiber shapes up Dubbed the Cannabis (hemp) — useful in rope, fabric and other FOR GROWING, Regulation and Taxation things — from taxation and from being consid- Act, House Bill 1371 argues ered an illegal drug. GUN VIOLATIONS that “100 years of criminal- The bill calls for oversight of the new ization in Massachusetts processes by a part-time Cannabis Control for town BY GUS STEEVES has failed to stop the pro- Authority, with seven members appointed by VILLAGER STAFF WRITER duction, distribution and the House speaker, Senate president and gov- CHARLTON — There’s a twist to the Feb. 22 use of marihuana, and that ernor. arrest of Gregory Lis, 39, for allegedly grow- Anne Gobi sustained enforcement Gobi said marijuana “is not going away,and clerk post ing marijuana in Petersham and possessing efforts cannot reasonably be it’s a multimillion dollar industry. When our improperly secured guns, pot, and growing- expected to accomplish that goal.” Instead, it communities are in financial trouble as they related equipment at his Berry Corner Road promotes the idea of commercializing are now, we need to look at other things” to GUY PULLS PAPERS TO home. cannabis for its numerous uses (recreational, raise revenue. The investigation leading to it occurred medicinal and industrial) and allowing people Saying she thinks legalization might also while state Rep. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, was to grow and sell it subject to specific licensing, RUN AGAINST TULLY Turn To MARIJUANA A11 one of four representatives filing a bill that inspection and taxation requirements. It page BY GUS STEEVES VILLAGER STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — If both candidates return their papers, this spring’s ballot will feature a Party goes to the dogs, and cats somewhat unusual contest as Darlene Tully and William Guy vie for the town clerk’s job. For both of them, May 7 will be the first time BIRTHDAY GATHERING RAISES they let the voters determine their fates. Tully,who has served in that role for about a $1K FOR SHELTER year since Sue Nichols retired because of ill- ness, acted as Nichols’ assistant for 16 years. BY GUS STEEVES to raise $1,000? For two seventh- Guy is probably best known for his on-stage VILLAGER STAFF WRITER grade girls to waive their birth- and behind-the-scenes roles as a longtime CHARLTON — Kids love ani- day presents and do this for the member and current president of Gateway mals, but not too many act on it shelter is pretty amazing.” Players. the way Brittany Como and According to Como, the girls The fact she has opposition doesn’t bother Hannah Mason did last week. expected to raise “a couple hun- Tully, who said she didn’t see it having any In an era when many young dred,” but actually collected effect on how she does the job in the mean- people seem to be all about accu- $1,025, of which $825 was in cash time. mulating stuff, these seventh- and most of the rest in leashes. “I’ll do things the exact same as I would if graders used their recent birth- Both girls said they hope to volun- Bill wasn’t running against me,” she said, not- day party to collect funds for the teer at the shelter after it opens. ing that means organizing things during the still-incomplete Friends of “We didn’t need that many pres- run-up to election day,but not helping on May Charlton Animal Shelter project ents,” Mason said. “We have dogs 7 beyond answering questions for her own instead. and wanted to make a difference.” assistant. As of December, the state’s revised “They handed me more than Kerrie Mason, Hannah’s moth- ethics rules clarified that officials running for $1,000 and I was floored,” said er, said the two girls came up with Gus Steeves file photo re-election should still do their official duties, Assistant Animal Control Officer the idea together after realizing Tully said. Assistant Animal Control Officer Brent Sellew points out what’s going to exist Brent Sellew. “Do you know how that collecting presents from at the new animal shelter on Old Town Road during a tour of the facility in Turn To TOWN CLERK page A11 many events FOCAS had to hold Turn To SHELTER page A11 December. A couple of seventh-graders used a recent birthday party to collect funds for the project. SPARTANS WIN CLARK Almanac ................. 2 Learning................ 9 A PICTURE TOURNAMENT SMALL Obituaries ............. 13 Calendar ...............12 ‘PAWFECT’ RELAY Police Logs .............. 9 Real Estate ...B Section SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP INDEX INDEX PAGE 3 Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 15-16 PAGE 15 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, March 4, 2011 www.charltonvillager.com Subdivision plan would join two roads CHARLTON ALMANAC THEY SAID IT UNTER PROPOSES TO TURN EX FAMILY FARM INTO HOUSING G - “My belief is that we’re being too permis- sive and we’re allowing a lot of principles BY GUS STEEVES Town records show it was one The state sees such planning as property,” Gunter said from his to erode. Why broaden our vices?” VILLAGER STAFF WRITER of 13 “anticipated submittals” for one of several methods available law office in Monterey, Calif., CHARLTON — For years, peo- this year; some of them are resi- to protect natural resources. where he has lived since 1972. — Charlton Police Chief James Pervier, ple on Horne Homestead and dential subdivisions but some are Some, such as Agricultural “You’d call it a farm in the east, on two bills co-sponsored by state Boucher roads have been used to commercial projects. Another 21 Preservation Zoning, seek to pro- but out west, we’d call it a ranch.” Rep. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) that would minimal traffic since the two projects have already been mote certain kinds of non-devel- For years under his parents and loosen restrictions on marijuana. roads are both dead ends. approved and are either under opment uses, while others, like prior owners, the 200-plus acres That will change if former resi- construction or in limbo. Scenic Vista Protection Bylaws, formed two farms, primarily rais- dent Roy Gunter Jr.’s vision On the residential side, “In the protect the public’s ability to see ing hay, horses and beef cattle. OPEN TO CLOSE comes to fruition. He aims to past decade, four of every five natural features deemed valuable Much of it was, and still is, wood- TOWN HALL (508) 248-2200 plant 67 houses on the dozens of subdivisions have come in as to the community. ed, and the MidState Trail cuts Board of Selectmen (248-2206): acres his family owns there, creat- ‘flexible,’” Gordon said. “In a conventional subdivision across the southern edge of the Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays ing a road that connects Horne The “flexible subdivision” con- plan, developers attempting to property. ...........................................7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. and Boucher in the process. cept is also often dubbed a “clus- place the maximum number of Gunter said he never consid- Tuesdays..............................7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. His project is still very much in ter subdivision,” because it aims lots on the property, will grade ered keeping it as agricultural Fridays ............................... 7:30 a.m to 12 p.m. the early stages. On Wednesday, to build the project’s houses clos- large areas of land, harm sensi- land, in part because his parents Town Clerk (248-2249): March 2, the Planning Board held er together than typical zoning tive areas and increase the didn’t make much money from Monday to Thursday.............10 a.m.