Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. II, No. 46 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: www.blackstonevalleytribune.com “Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” August 14, 2009 Yacino rejoins Conservation Commission BY THOMAS MATTSON TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER DOUGLAS — Michael Yacino is once more a member of the Conservation Commission. He was voted to another three- year term to the commission after the appointing body — the Board of Selectmen — had held off for sever- al months from renaming Yacino or anyone else. Yacino recently read a lengthy statement to the board maintaining he conducted an analysis of wells in town with the backing both of the Board of Health and of the Conservation Commission. Selectmen Chairman Michael Hughes had asked Yacino several questions recently and Yacino went into some detail answering them at Michael Yacino a meeting last month. “At the last meeting,” Hughes But, he acknowledged, he had announced at the Aug. 4 selectmen’s learned new information from meeting, “I expressed concern about Yacino’s statement of last month. Thomas Mattson photo reappointing Mr. Yacino.” Turn To YACINO page A8 Lee Gaudette, of Gaudette Insurance, stands outside the building at Plummers Corner that his late father, Gerald, built in 1981. Davis irked by ZBA BY THOMAS MATTSON ment expressing VISION FULFILLED TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER his surprise at DOUGLAS — Although the chair- the selectmen’s man of the Zoning Board of Appeals failure to reap- GAUDETTE RIGHT ON ABOUT PLUMMER’S CORNER (ZBA) recommends that member point him to the Harold Davis be reappointed, select- ZBA. men have thus far not renamed the Davis is chair- THOMAS MATTSON Canal (1828-48) a little to the Whitinsville is one of five TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER longtime attorney to the panel. man of the east of what is now Plummer’s villages in the town of The Board of Selectmen said it Economic NORTHBRIDGE — Israel Corner off Church Street Northbridge, but it became a would make a decision about an Development Plummer might have liked Extension. name in itself because of the appointment to the ZBA at its next Commission as Up to the 1970s, you could ask weight and influence of the what has happened in his neck meeting, Aug. 18. well as a ZBA Hal Davis of the woods — Plummer’s most people in town where the Whitins, who founded and ran From the tone of the selectmen’s member. He has Corner. future commercial growth of Whitin Machine Works (1831- session Tuesday, Aug. 4, it appears exerted notable leadership in get- Plummer ran a place called the town was likely to be, and 1966) in what became the cen- Davis will not be reappointed. ting industrial sites identified, and Plummer’s Landing back in they would say — downtown Technically speaking, he still could has taken an active role in trying to Turn To CORNER A13 the days of the Blackstone Whitinsville, of course. page be reappointed to the ZBA Aug. 18. Davis read a long, detailed state- Turn To DAVIS page A10 Industrial planning takes strides DOUGLAS SEEKS TO CREATE BUILDABLE AREA OF ROUTE 146 BY THOMAS MATTSON TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER DOUGLAS — “A big step forward in making the area buildable and getting to the point where we can get folks in there,” said Town Administrator Michael Guzinski of planning efforts to develop the four- town industrial/commercial area along Route 146. Although the land along the high- File photo way is in Sutton, Northbridge, From left, UEF members Rachel Wright, Linda Kuros, Howard Boyaj, Kate Travaline Douglas and Uxbridge, it is mostly and Dr. Andrew Coles at this year’s Superintendent’s Gala. private property in Sutton and Douglas that Guzinski was referring to. The area centered on the Pyne Thomas Mattson photo Sand and Gravel business north of Gilboa Street and west of Route 146 From left, Town Engineer William Cundiff and Plannning/Conservation Agent Stephen UEF hands out $10K Zisk address Douglas selectmen about progress in industrial planning. has been designated a 43D site. The other is the general area south of Route 16 and bordering Webster. So the town has designated them get sites ready so that when the in classroom grants Chapter 43D has to do with expe- as 43D sites. economy turns more favorable, the dited permitting. It is a state-spon- In a presentation to the Board of areas are ready to be developed. BY ANDY LEVIN most recent round of grants and sored program to encourage faster Selectmen Aug. 4 about progress In regard to the Pyne (or Gilboa) TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER scholarships. development. with the 43D designations, Town site, whose potentiality for industri- UXBRIDGE — “Oftentimes, out of The tragedy Travaline was refer- Carter-Burgess several years ago Engineer William Cundiff and al-commercial development was tragedy comes some good.” ring to was the sudden death this did an analysis of the best industri- Stephen Zisk, planning/conserva- first identified by the Carter- So said Kate Travaline, president past February of the district’s for- al sites in town, and the land near tion agent, reviewed steps taken Burgess study several years ago and of the Uxbridge Education mer high school principal and super- Webster as well as the Pyne Gravel toward getting the sites ready for picked up by the Four Town Foundation (UEF), while announc- area were designated prime indus- development. Economic Development Committee, As Guzinski said, the hope is to ing the five-year-old organization’s Turn To GRANTS page A10 trial sites. Turn To PLAN page A14 A2-3 ...................................... LOCAL A9 ..................... SENIOR SCENE THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE CAN BE A4-5 ..................................... OPINION A11 ......................... CALENDAR A7..................................... OBITUARIES B3 ........................ REAL ESTATE REACHED VIA E-MAIL: [email protected] INSIDE 2 • Friday, August 14, 2009 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE VALLEY NOTEBOOK TRIBUNE Skerry photos showing at Heritage Gallery ALMANAC QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY ANDY LEVIN Much of Skerry’s current work focuses on TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER environmental issues and features stories on “Not once in connection with my pro- REGION — An Uxbridge native who has endangered animals or threatened marine fession or community service has any- gone on to become one of the world’s preemi- ecosystems. one suggested that I had placed myself nent underwater photographers is the latest “The oceans are in trouble,” Skerry states in a conflict of interest. Until now.” artist to have his work displayed at the on his Website. “There are some serious prob- Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery at lems out there that I believe are not clear to — Hal Davis, on his non-reappointment to Alternatives’ Whitin Mill in Whitinsville. many people. My hope is to continually find the Douglas ZBA. The work of Brian Skerry, recipient of sev- new ways of creating images and stories that eral awards for his National Geographic pho- both celebrate the sea yet also highlight envi- THE STATS tography,is on display at the Heritage Gallery ronmental problems. Photography can be a Median price asked for vacant housing through Sept. 25. Skerry was honored with a powerful instrument for change.” (in dollars) reception Friday, Aug. 7 at Heritage Gallery. Skerry’s presentation at the Singh He will present a lecture and slide show later Performance Center, “Crucial Waters,” will be Auburn ———————————57,600 this month at the Singh Performance Center Courtesy photo held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 27. Brimfield ——————————95,000 Brookfield —————————95,000 at Alternatives. The underwater photography of Uxbridge native Charlton ——————————137,500 The exhibit, “Ocean Wild,” features Brian Skerry is on display at Alternatives. Skerry’s work over the past two decades for Douglas ————————————— 0 Dudley ———————————112,500 National Geographic, the National Audubon secrets.” De Luna to close Society, the Smithsonian magazine and U.S. Holland——————————— 97,500 By the time Skerry was 15, according to After maintaining a presence on South News and World Report. Leicester ——————————137,500 Saupe, he was a certified SCUBA diver. Main Street for the past six years, De Luna: “A “Growing up in Uxbridge, Brian spent sum- Northbridge ————————131,300 “After attending a lecture on underwater Curious Shop of Goods” plans to close at the mer days at the beach or backyard pool swim- Oxford ———————————108,800 photography, he decided what it was he want- end of this month. ming underwater, imagining he was swim- Southbridge —————————98,700 ed to do with his life,” he said. “Within a year The shop, owned by Jay and Cheryl Gallo, ming with dolphins, whales and sharks,” said Spencer——————————— 88,600 he had purchased his first underwater camera sells a unique variety of merchandise includ- Thomas Saupe, Alternatives’ director of com- Sturbridge —————————137,500 and began taking pictures off the coast of ing rocks and minerals, herbs and teas, fossils, munity outreach. “While paging through Uxbridge ——————————225,000 New England.” handmade jewelry, bugs and butterflies and copies of National Geographic, he dreamed of Wales ————————————61,700 As a college student, Skerry studied photog- clothing. traveling the world’s oceans discovering its Webster ——————————203,100 raphy, film and television production. “We would like to extend our gratitude to all our loyal customers who have supported us * Information as of 2000 U.S. Census throughout the years,” said Cheryl Gallo. “We appreciate the support from the local system CRANE SUNRISE/SUNSET and have enjoyed sharing our love of the rocks and minerals with the children and all Sat., Aug. 15 ——5:56 a.m. ——7:48 p.m. SERVICE the kind customers that patiently listened to Sun., Aug. 16 ——5:57 a.m. ——7:47 p.m. 15 North Street Douglas, MA us tell them about our rocks and minerals that Mon., Aug.