Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. VI, No. 22 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET Friday, June 1, 2012 THIS WEEK’S HONORING THE SACRIFICE QUOTE Kevin Flanders photos STURBRIDGE — Hundreds of guests braved the scorching heat on “Be charitable Memorial Day Monday, May 28, to watch the annual parade and patriotic ceremonies. It was an especially meaningful day for veterans and their before wealth families, as the new Honor Roll memorial was dedicated in front of Town makes thee Hall. For more photos, turn to page A8! covetous.” Sir Thomas Browne INSIDE ALMANAC ............2 POLICE LOGS........9 OBITUARIES .........7 OPINION ............12 CALENDAR .........12 SPORTS ............14 Veterans looking on during the Honor Roll ceremony. THAT These men proudly show off the uniforms worn by soldiers of the past. 1ST OF JUNE The day dawned hot and the month was June; But no one knew what was coming that afternoon. The sky grew dark as we paid it no mind; When suddenly it hit like nothing of a kind. The parade is about to be on the move again. The destruction Men and women of all ages show their patriotism. was massive and four lost their lives; We were all in Sullivan One year later, rebuilding continues shock as the tears filled our eyes. VILLAGE GREEN We will never for- up for get that day as long PERSEVERING ON as we live; LONG ROAD TO Because we all clerk RECOVERY know Mother Nature never for- BY KEVIN FLANDERS NEWS STAFF WRITER gives. position BRIMFIELD — One year after an EF3 tornado leveled Village Green BY KEVIN FLANDERS Family Campground and took the June 14, 2011 VILLAGER STAFF WRITER life of one of its campers, owner Korey McDonald BRIMFIELD — Lester Twarowski and his friends Holland Having recently and family members continue to retired, Robert walk a long road to recovery. Sullivan is pre- It seems like just yesterday that we pared to devote his first witnessed the complete devasta- time and skills to tion at the campground, where 95 of upgrading the 97 trailers were destroyed. With a office of the town daunting rebuilding effort ahead of Robert Sullivan clerk and carrying him, Twarowski could have given up out the array of and moved away, but he felt he owed duties that come with it. it to his campground family to stay. Sullivan, who is challenging cur- “Sometimes I’ve questioned why I rent town clerk Pamela Beall decided to stay on this road. But then Kevin Flanders photos Monday, June 4, for the position, has I talked to these people by the camp- been a member of several commit- fire for a few minutes and I knew why Village Green Family Campground — pictured, left, in the days after last year’s tornado, and right, nearly a year later to the day — sustained some of the worst damage of any prop- erty throughout the entire 39-mile tornado path, but Lester Twarowski and his family Turn To SULLIVAN, page A<None> Turn To REBUILDING, page A11 haven’t given up their battle to recover. Planting seeds of greatness ‘My main interest is the people of Brimfield’ Page A5 Panaccione, who is looking for your PANACCIONE vote on June 4 to allow her to contin- SEEKING RE-ELECTION ue serving her community. Panaccione has been a member of AS SELECTMAN the board for 12 years, and prior to OPINION that she served on the Finance BY KEVIN FLANDERS Committee for 10 years. She is proud VILLAGER STAFF WRITER GET YOUR of her previous accomplishments POINT ACROSS BRIMFIELD — It’s been a long and and, if elected, would like to continue successful run as selectman for Diane PAGE A10 focusing on several ongoing projects. “I am dedicated to this town and Kevin Flanders photo sincere in my efforts to keep POLICE LOGS Brimfield financially solvent,” Diane Panaccione, a member of the Panaccione said. “My main interest is Brimfield Board of Selectman for 12 years, PAGE A5 is bidding for re-election on Monday, June 4. Turn To PANACCIONE, page A13 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, June 1, 2012 IN AND AROUND STURBRIDGE BY KEVIN FLANDERS weeks. ENVIROTHON RESULTS TRAIL BUILDING 101 TORNADO ANNIVERSARY VILLAGER STAFF WRITER “It was great to see so many peo- ple take part in this effort. Everyone A handful of events will be held The Brimfield Senior Center worked very hard,” said BCOA pro- Local high school students recent- The Sturbridge Trail Committee, throughout the area to raise money recently wrapped up its first weight gram coordinator Heather ly earned honors for their knowl- which received grant funding from for ongoing tornado relief. Back of loss challenge during which three Dickinson. edge of the environment at the 25th the Department of Conservation the Pack Productions will host a people dropped more than 30 In total, 43 people signed up for the annual Massachusetts Envirothon. and Recreation trails program and pasta dinner at the Sturbridge pounds. first weight loss challenge. Anyone The event was held at the the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers Coffee House on Friday, June 1 at 6 The winner, who wished to interested in participating in the Blackstone River and Canal (GTTB), reminds residents that it p.m., as well as a 50-mile relay the remain anonymous, donated his upcoming challenge should call the Heritage State Park in Uxbridge on will host a three-day trail building next day, Saturday, June 2. For more $185 prize to the First senior center at 413-245-7253. May 17. training course. information, visit www.botpp.org. Congregational Church of After studying and preparing for Titled “The Art and Science of In addition, the Laughter out of Brimfield’s elevator fund, which most of the year, 165 high school stu- Trails,” the course will be presented Kaos tornado relief comedy show was set up to raise money for the ICE CREAM SOCIAL dents from 33 public and private by three of the nation’s leading con- will take place on Sunday,June 3 at 7 construction of an addition to the schools participated in the outdoor tractors in trail building and devel- p.m. at the Sturbridge Host Hotel. field competition. The group from opment. The cost is $40 and covers For more information, visit church with an elevator. He was one The South Valley Family Support of four participants to lose more Tantasqua Regional High School meals for two days and the national- www.brownpapertickets.com. Center invites the public to join placed third in the soils ecostation ly acclaimed International than 20 pounds throughout the 16- them for a free summer kick-off week challenge. category. Mountain Biking Association’s trail party on Saturday,June 23, from 1 to For more information about the building handbook. ANTIQUE CAR RALLY “Everyone enjoyed doing this so 3 p.m. This fun family event will fea- much that they want to continue it,” Massachusetts Envirothon, visit The course runs from Thursday, Old Sturbridge Village invites res- ture an ice cream social as well as www.maenvirothon.org. June 7 to Saturday June 9. said BCOA Director Gina Lynch. face painting and other enjoyable idents to check out more than 70 pre- “Because they knew they would be Registration forms are available at 1946 automobiles on Saturday, June activities for the entire family. Town Hall and online at the GTTB weighing in every week, it really For more information, call 508- PICNIC ON THE COMMON 2. The cars will be showcased on the helped to keep them on track.” website: http://www.grandtrunk- Common throughout the day, and a 796-1950. The South Valley Family trailblazers.org/. The challenge was in such popu- Support Center is located at 128 Brimfield residents are invited to grand procession of the autos will lar demand that Lynch decided to Main Street in Sturbridge. attend a picnic on the Town take place at 3:30 p.m. start up another one this Sunday, Common from noon to 4 p.m. on To learn more about this event, May 27. It will last for 16 more Saturday, June 2. It’s going to be a visit www.osv.org. fun and exciting day as residents Kevin Flanders can be reached at mark the one-year anniversary of 508-909-4136, or by email at kflan- the tornado. [email protected]. DUMPSTER SERVICES LLC 508-885-2428 Trash, Demolition Debris, • Etc. Budget up for vote at Town Meeting $99 WEEKLY PICK-UP, $70 BI-WEEKLY, QUARTERLY RATE BY KEVIN FLANDERS Capital Planning Committee, will $315,000 to purchase the property RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE PICKUP Pick-up Weekly and Bi-Weekly VILLAGER STAFF WRITER DUMPSTER CONTAINERS We Offer 15, 20 and 30 Yard Dumpsters ask voters if they support raising and buildings located at 310 Main STURBRIDGE — Town officials and appropriating $169,022 to pur- Street. RELIABLE Fully Insured, Locally Owned & Operated are prepared for the Annual Town chase a heavy duty dump truck with Immediately following the Annual PROMPT Please Call For our Money Saving RATES Meeting on Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m., a plow for the DPW. Meanwhile, Town Meeting will be a Special Town where residents will determine the Article 25 will determine if voters Meeting with four articles on the fiscal 2013 operating budget and vote will reauthorize the Board of warrant. Article 66, sponsored by the on 30 other articles. Selectmen to lease all or any portion Board of Health, the town adminis- Spencer Article 12 will ask voters if they of four parcels of land located on trator, and the finance director, will support transferring $142,360 from Breakneck Road and Cross Road for ask voters to transfer from free cash Veterinary the hotel and motel special account the purpose of installing and operat- the sum of $55,000 to the landfill and to the betterment account to fund ing a solar array for electric power, recycling center purchase of servic- Hospital several items, including landscaping generation, and distribution.