Mailed free to requesting homes in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland and Wales Vol. 3, No. 10 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STURBRIDGEVILLAGER.NET ‘What one has to do usually can be done.’ Friday, March 6, 2009 Town Meeting OKs renovations Wales TOWN HALL, CENTER SCHOOL PLAN BACKED pantry BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY general fund. According to Sturbridge at approximately 30 years. VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Town Administrator James $78 a year. “These costs will be paid STURBRIDGE — After a Malloy, who also serves as “We did find structural prob- over a long period of time, not lengthy debate, the Town Hall Chairman of the Town lems with both buildings,” in one lump sum,” Serio said. and Center School renovation talk Hall/Center School Building Malloy said, explaining why “It makes sense to protect and project was approved at the Committee, said this latest fig- the extra funds were needed. preserve these assets,” he said Tuesday, Feb. 24 Special Town ure added on top of the more Michael Serio, a member of of the two historic buildings. Meeting. than $4 million approved at a the Finance Committee, which Architect Philip O’Brien, a A two-thirds majority vote 2007 Town Meeting, would voted in favor of the renova- principal partner of the firm refuted approved an additional appro- place the tax burden on an tion project, explained that Architect Philip priation of $786,310 from the average single family in funds will paid out over nearly Turn To TOWN, page A9 O’Brien FOOD Tantasqua trial team raises the bar PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE FUTURE LEGAL IN TOWN EAGLES TO BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY ARGUE IN STATE NEWS STAFF WRITER WALES — Despite speculation ‘PLAYOFFS’ that the Wales Community Pantry faces closure, town officials say all that’s happening is a little reorgani- zation. BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Selectman Richard Learned, who VILLAGER STAFF WRITER is on medical leave from the board STURBRIDGE — Boasting a 3- through the end of March after suf- 0 record so far, the Tantasqua fering a stroke suffered in early Regional High School mock February, said Sunday, March 1, he trial team is headed for the state is fearful that the Wales trial-offs — the playoffs of the Community Pantry is in danger of mock trial world. having to close its doors. “I could not be more proud of “I don’t know what people are the mock trial team, this being coming to get,” Learned said. its second year of existence,” “There’s nothing there.” He indicat- said Tantasqua principal Steven ed that on a recent trip to the food Bliss. pantry, he found the shelves bare. Showing dramatic improve- “At the rate it’s going, not only ment over their freshman sea- will the pantry close down, but the son, Bliss said the team’s per- lunch program will shut down formance so far this year, “is because they’re connected,” nothing short of remarkable.” Learned speculated. “And the peo- The team, which started ple that are going to lose are the peo- weekly meetings back in ple of Wales, Brimfield and Christopher Tanguay photo Holland.” Margot Farrell of the mock trial team rehearses her opening statement during a practice trial in preparation for this week’s trial-offs. Turn To MOCK, page A9 Turn To PANTRY, page A9 Brewer in ‘healing process’ POWWOW HONORS INDIAN CULTURE PROSTATE SURGERY WON’T KEEP LEGISLATOR FROM JOB HE LOVES BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY nosed with prostate cancer telephone interview from VILLAGER STAFF WRITER just before New Year’s, his home. After a four-hour medical underwent the procedure The most difficult part of procedure on Friday, Feb. just days after his 61st birth- this healing process, the 13, State Sen. Steven day. Senator said, has been slow- Brewer, D-Barre, is happy to “We all, when we’re ing down. be home, resting, recuperat- healthy, have this sense of “You’ll never find a per- ing — and itching to get immortality and immunity, son who loves what he does back to work. but it’s fragile its very, very Stephen M. Brewer Brewer, who was diag- fragile,” Brewer said in a Turn To BREWER, page A16 Gimas running as way to ‘give back’ BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY NEWS STAFF WRITER STURBRIDGE — ELECTION 2009 Finance Committee mem- ber Priscilla Gimas is to understand the com- dents have come to running for a seat on the munity and how it expect,” she said. Board of Selectmen for works,” she said. Gimas relied on that the second time. Her experience on the understanding when vot- Appointed to the Finance Committee, ing in favor of continuing Finance Committee in Gimas said, has given her the Town Hall/Center April 2008 to fill a vacated an intimate look at exact- School renovation proj- seat midterm, Gimas said ly what the needs are of ect. she was drawn to the various town depart- “I’m glad that it passed, ments. I’m very much in favor of position out of a desire to Priscilla Gimas become more familiar “You have a better it,” she said of the with the inner workings understanding of the Special Town Meeting Prior to her appoint- Shawn Kelley photo of the town. financial needs of each vote last week that allo- ment on the Finance STURBIRDGE — Don Barnaby, of Listiguj, Quebec, poses for a picture in his “I was interested in it department in order to cated an additional Committee, Gimas was First Nation Migmag regalia during the annual Winter Powwow held at Burgess provide the service resi- $786,000 to the project. because it does help you Turn To GIMAS, page A9 Elementary Saturday, Feb. 28. For more photos, see Page A-6. ALMANAC ..............2 LOCAL SPORTS POLICE LOGS ..........5 VILLAGER TRIVIA OPINION ................8 BUTTS OUT AT TOURNAMENT The world’s population CALENDAR ...........12 grows by how much each year? PHARMACIES ACTION A) 1 million B) 100 million C) OBITUARIES ..........13 1,000 or D) 100? PAGE 3 PAGE 14 Answer inside. INSIDE SPORTS ..........14-15 2 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, March 6, 2009 Officials debate financial gesture VILLAGER ALMANAC BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Selectman Scott Garieri questioned how “A lot of that is loss of the Community NEWS STAFF WRITER appropriate a 3 percent pay increase was for Policing grants,” Malloy said. “It’s one of the QUOTATION OF THE WEEK STURBRIDGE — If there was ever a year for Malloy,saying that he was aware of people who more complicated line items in our budget,” he a symbolic financial gesture, this might be the survive on 10 percent of a town administra- added, indicating that he would request Ford’s “You’ll never find a person who loves what year. While reviewing line items in the Fiscal tor’s salary.Again, as a gesture to the taxpayers presence at a future meeting to discuss the he does more than I do.” Year 2010 budget, Selectmen questioned the of Sturbridge, Garieri suggested the raise may issue. — State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, indi- necessity and appropriateness of pay raises not be appropriate this year. In other business, the board continued to cating that despite his prostate cancer diagnoses and stipends. “With times like they are right now, most chip away at placement of warrant articles for and recent surgery, he still plans on running for Selectman Hal White first raised the issue CEOs are not taking incentives or pay raises,” the April 27th Annual Town Meeting, includ- re-election when his term expires. with stipends given to various members of Garieri said. ing a consent agenda suggested by Malloy, and applicable boards and committees — the Town Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Steven a Special Town Meeting agenda to be OPEN TO CLOSE Charter prohibits certain positions from Halterman explained that the board is in fact addressed the same night. receiving stipends. the town’s chief executive officer and Malloy One of the articles the Selectmen voted to HOLLAND: 413-245-7108 “I think as a symbolic gesture, it would be a serves as the chief administrative officer. place and support on the Annual Town Mon – Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and good year to make them zero,” White said, sug- Furthermore, Halterman said that Malloy’s Meeting warrant was number 23. The article 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. gesting that a study committee be formed to pay rate is dependant upon that of every other requests $12,800 for repairs necessary at the FISKDALE: 508-347-6486 examine the need for the stipends. department head. Sturbridge Nursery School. Weekdays 9:00-4:30 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 Town Administrator James Malloy “Jim is in lockstep with other department Representatives of the school told the board explained the current FY10 budget already heads,” Halterman said, explaining that the the three main projects money is needed for STURBRIDGE 508-347-6463 Weekdays 8:30 – 5:00 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 reflects a significant reduction in stipends. only way to refuse Malloy a raise would be to are work on the slate roof, eradication of car- Selectman Mary Blanchard said she felt a withhold raises across the board. penter ants, and most expensively, rebuilding BRIMFIELD: 413-245-3451 complete elimination of the stipends might be With $157,000 in total raises budgeted, the entryway. Weekdays: 9:00 – 4:30 and Sat. 9:00 -12:00 a little overboard. Malloy said $74,000 was designated for police, Malloy suggested a way to save money on the WALES: 413-245-9808 “To go to zero, I think, is really extreme,” $37,600 for fire personnel and $29,000 specifical- project may be to have the technical division Weekdays 8:30 – 12:30 and 2:00 – 4:30 and Blanchard said, saying it would almost be ly for DPW workers.