SPENCER FAMILY DENTAL Gentle Caring State of the Art Dentistry For The Whole Family Cosmetic Dentistry • Restorative Dentistry • Preventative Dentistry CROWNS • CAPS • BRIDGES • COMPLETE and PARTIAL DENTURES New We Strive NON SURGICAL GUM TREATMENT • ROOT CANAL THERAPY Patients SURGICAL SERVICES For Painless Welcome BREATH CLINIC-WE TREAT CHRONIC BAD BREATH Dentistry HERBAL DENTAL PRODUCTS • All Instruments Fully Sterilized • Most Insurances Accepted Dr. Nasser S. Hanna Conveniently Located On Route 9 • (Corner of Greenville St. & Main St.) 284 Main St., Spencer 508-885-5511 Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. VII, No. 28 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM Friday, July 12, 2013 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE Memories “It does not matter how slowly you go d’amour so long as you do not stop.” PIANO, PATIENCE INSTRUMENTAL Confucius IN DEALING WITH DEMENTIA BY MARK ASHTON VILLAGER STAFF WRITER INSIDE CHARLTON — Memories! Keith Krewson, 88, has thou- sands of them. Almanac ....................2 Of growing up in Police Logs ................5 Cleveland, Ohio. Of joining Learning ....................5 the Marines at age 17 to fight in the Pacific. Of being Opinion ....................10 wounded when the aircraft carrier on which he was Calendar ..................12 Mark Ashton photos Obituaries ................13 serving was destroyed by Miguel Swenson, left, and Giovante Swenson, right, were heroes among proud family members at cer- kamikazes. Of going to col- Sports ................14-15 emonies honoring the pair recently for their life-saving efforts. lege on the GI Bill and Real Estate ......B Sect. launching a career in indus- trial psychology. Of moving to Pennsylvania, remarry- Praising a job well done ing, becoming a pilot, mov- Mark Ashton photos ing to Boston and then LOCAL Keith and Peggy Krewson live at Nantucket, while working the Masonic Home in Charlton. for Roger Williams Medical DIVE TEAM, OFFICIALS HONOR Center in Providence. Of being a Mason. Of joining opera stage performer, a col- BUFFUMVILLE RESCUERS Angel Flight NE, ferrying league of Arthur Fiedler patients to and from life-sav- and John Williams. But ing medical appointments, BY MARK ASHTON The brothers, Giovante, something happened about VILLAGER STAFF WRITER for free. Of settling in at the 18 months ago, when she was 15, and Miguel Swenson, Masonic Home in Charlton CHARLTON — The 14, were being honored for struck with short-term to enjoy retirement with a dementia, and memories kudos and congratulations their life-saving efforts on lifetime of stories – and kept coming — from police Saturday, June 1, when vanished or reappeared for memories – to share with no apparent reason. and firemen, legislators, they rescued 7-year-old newfound friends. town officials, state troop- Madison Barnett from “It came on like light- Krewson’s wife, Margaret, ning,” says her husband, ers, park rangers, dive Buffumville Lake, where known to everyone as Peggy, team members, members she, the Swensons, and Giovante, left, and Miguel who because of his fading Swenson posed for photos in should have – and used to eyesight, eventually admit- of the press, and others, about a thousand other have – many of those same Ping alert to replace but the Swenson brothers area residents were swim- the Charlton Selectmen’s ted he was incapable of car- Meeting Room before area res- memories – and a good many ing for Peggy in their inde- reverse 911 seemed slightly mystified ming and enjoying some more. Of her career as a con- by all the fuss. early summer beach weath- cue and public safety officials pendent living apartment. “I Page A2 arrived with commendations for cert pianist, music director couldn’t see. I didn’t want to After all, they were just er. at prestigious churches and doing what comes natural- Barnett was playing in their efforts in rescuing a down- give her the wrong pills. She ing girl from Buffumville Lake organizations throughout ly. New England, as a lyric LEARNING Please Read RESCUE, page A11 on June 1. Please Read MEMORIES, page A11 A home away Amazing grace from home FIRST ‘CHRISTIANALITY FESTIVAL’ ATTRACTS FRESH AIR FUND KIDS GAIN GOOD WEATHER AND A CROWD SECOND FAMILY EXPERIENCE BY MARK ASHTON VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Biggest Losers BY JOY RICHARD Susan Shalhoub said she CHARLTON — Despite STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER and her husband will be frequent forecasts of dire Page A3 Central Massachusetts hosting a child for a second and inclement weather, the will once again greet an time this year. Shalhoub first-ever Christianality excited group of campers said Jozziah, 7, a native of Festival drew some 150 SPORTS who will join local families Queens, N.Y., has become a people to the grounds care of the Fresh Air Fund. welcome addition to their around Charlton City More than 130 years later, family during the past year. United Methodist Church kids from cities all over the Shalhoub said the experi- on Saturday, June 29, for northeast will make the ence last year was a very four hours of free enter- bus journey down to the positive one. She said she tainment (contemporary countryside of gives Jozziah’s mom a lot of Christian music bands), Massachsuetts to visit with credit for extending her pony rides, games for kids, families new and familiar trust to their family. summer picnic food, and who plan to give them a She said one of the plenty of family fun. summer like they have things that surprised her Sunny skies and cooling never been given. the most was how much the breezes blessed the event, Families and partici- little experience meant to organized by the church’s pants with the Fresh Air Jozziah. Shalhoub said on concert team in junction Fund will arrive at the one trip to the Dudley with its missionary board. Little League Sturbridge Wal-Mart and transfer station, Jozziah Free parking was provided spend a week together this was intrigued by how trash at the church and on the Mark Ashton photos August. Speaking with and recycling was property next door (both action Sierra Erstgard offers a moving “Dirt Road Prayer.” some families in the tri- processed. on Stafford Street), gener- Page A14 town it was clear that this “We’re just out doing ously donated by the Tully they’ve “taken out the respect, kindness, and gen- experience has changed errands, making several family. domain name.” It’s defined erosity, especially to those both the parents and their stops, and I wasn’t expect- Christianality is a term as “conveying a Christian less fortunate.” children for the better. ing it to be a big deal,” said coined by the church’s con- personality – loving your fellow man, showing OPINION Dudley resident and cert team and for which Please Read FESTIVAL, page A12 O Fresh Air Fund participant Please Read CAMP, page A11 GET YOUR POINT ACROSS PAGE A10 State leaders react to state budget approval POLICE LOGS BY JOY RICHARD July 2, was $34,063,481,000. our state’s spending.” additional spending comes on STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Durant echoed the senti- Durant said he feels the jump the backs of Massachusetts PAGE A5 With funding for fiscal 2014 ments he made in a press in taxes to support the budget taxpayers to the tune of over officially approved at the state release from late June, where is not something that will help $500 million tax increases this level, cities around the area are he spoke about the concerns he our state in the year to come. year and over $700 million by looking to extra funding for has with the budget. He said he “While it’s easy to point to 2016,” said Durant last month. budgetary relief. was happy to see local aid bol- some of the programs that During an interview on According to State Rep. Peter stered for the upcoming year, receive additional funding and Wednesday, July 3, Durant said Durant, R-Spencer, the final but was frustrated “by the lack say what a great job the state is Peter Durant number approved on Tuesday, of focus and prioritization in doing, the truth is that this Please Read BUDGET, page A13 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, July 12, 2013 www.charltonvillager.com Alert system expected to reach thousands of smart phones BY JOY RICHARD terms and conditions, the end user lic notifications.” STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER need only turn on location-based He added that the Worcester Reverse 911 calls are slipping out services to receive alerts any- County office is the first in New of vogue, as cost-effective phone where in the world.” England to use the new system. apps are now providing emer- Evangelidis said he is excited to He said over the past several gency alert services. utilize the new technology and months, many of the bugs, which In a world where the weather is replace the former reverse 911 sys- have plagued the system since its ever changing and the social cli- tem that was damaged as a result inception in 2012, have been mate has been rockier than ever, of Hurricane Sandy.He added that worked out. Evangelidis said this the Worcester County Sheriff ’s Homeland Security originally includes multiple alerts of the Office has recently unveiled their funded the system in 2008 and it same event. new system of public warnings. was land-based. Evangelidis said When asked what people would Sheriff Lew Evangelidis sat after the damaged occurred fund- do if they did not have a smart down to speak about the ing was taken away, and this new phone, he said that is being looked “Ping4alerts” app on Tuesday,July system was acquired.