Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. V, No. 30 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, May 11, 2012 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE Lasell Field work OK’d, to head to ballot vote “Reason should RESIDENTS TO DECIDE FATE OF $900K PROJECT direct and appetite obey.” BY ADAM T. SILVA with Article 25 not passing Department and $542.84 to TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER and Article 26 being with- Harry’s Pizza in Article 1. Cicero NORTHBRIDGE — After drawn. The votes taken under a more than hour-long battle A town bylaw dictated Article 3 of the 2011 Spring that resulted in a secret bal- that the meeting end at 10:30 Annual Town Meeting and lot last week, voters moved p.m., but voters decided to Article 2 of the 2011 Fall to put the Lasell Field artifi- overturn the bylaw instead Annual Town Meeting were INSIDE cial turf decision on the of reconvening a week later. amended in Article 2. Friday, May 11 ballot. To pay for unexpected Available funds from the A2-3— LOCAL Voters decided, 127-92, to appropriated funds of the Treasury and/or the Health A4-5— OPINION add the controversial DPW, $3,809.41 was raised Insurance Stabilization $900,000 project onto the and appropriated. The Fund, which will not exceed A6— OBITUARIES town’s general election. breakdown is as follows: $37,156,373, were raised and A6 — CALENDAR If the field vote passes, the $1,915.00 to Bigelow Electric, appropriated to defray the average household will see a $91.19 to Whitinsville Water necessary and usual expens- A10 — SPORTS one-time tax increase of Company, $577.39 to es of the several depart- A12— SENIORS $170. Whitinsville Water ments of the town for Fiscal Nearly all of the 26 Company, $116.89 to Year 2013 in Article 3. Adam T. Silva photo RIPS B2 — T Articles on the warrant Whitinsville Water The town will raise and Supporters of Lasell field make their voices heard last week. After B3 — LEGALS passed unanimously at the Company, $566.10 to the approval at Town Meeting, the field question will move to a vote over four-hour meeting, Northbridge Water Friday, May 11. B5— REAL ESTATE Please Read MEETING, page A9 LOCAL TOPICS OF INTEREST ‘My goal is to be able to better the town’ PITMAN UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN UXBRIDGE BY ADAM T. SILVA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER UXBRIDGE — It took a quick decision to get start- ed, but Uxbridge Selectman Beth Pitman’s view of the future is hard- ly haphazardly thrown Malia’s battle together. Page A3 Pitman is running for re-election against former Selectman Peter Baghdasarian on Tuesday, May 22. LEARNING “I ran three years ago on Beth Pitman Please Read PITMAN, page A9 Adam T. Silva photos NORTHBRIDGE – Fifth- Carney ready to begin graders at Northbridge Middle School hosted an Interest Fair on Thursday, May 3. ‘new slate’ in Uxbridge Above, With the hopes of starring there one day, it BY ADAM T. SILVA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER was natural for Meghan Coughlin to present UXBRIDGE — With Broadway. Superintendent George Donation bridges Zini leaving behind a communication gap Right, After discovering a recent legacy of a state-of- Beatles CD of his father’s, the-art new high school, Page A8 Brad Richer presented The newly named Uxbridge Fab Four. The George Superintendent Kevin Harrison-penned ballad Carney has some large SPORTS “Something” is his favorite shoes to fill. Beatles song. And he’s ready and will- ing to fill those shoes. For more photos, turn to Carney began his career page A7! in Ashland as an intern guidance councilor and a Kevin Carney Please Read CARNEY, page A9 A hero of everyday life Spartans put game out of reach PELOQUIN TO BE HONORED FOR HUNGER FIGHTING WORK Page A10 BY ADAM T. SILVA Washington D.C. to and General Manager and needy and have done TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER accept her award. Ann Strom contacted the this for the past seven DOUGLAS — Karen According to Sodexo, church and several mem- years. OPINION Peloquin is quickly “Peloquin is being hon- bers wrote testimonials “I never really got learning her years of ored for her leadership on her behalf. involved with it and just GET YOUR good deeds aren’t going and efforts to feed hun- An executive chef kind of did my own POINT ACROSS unnoticed. gry and disadvantaged manager for Sodexo, a thing, but my boss would Peloquin is one of five men and women through food worldwide food talk to me about things I PAGE A4 winners of the annual her church, the New service company, would do on the week- “Heroes of Everyday England Dream Center.” Peloquin works in ends,” she said. Life” award, which is More than 500 nomina- Marlborough and she On weekends at the Contact the sponsored by the Sodexo tions throughout the cooks for more than 500 Dream Center, located at Adam T. Silva photo Tribune editor Stop Hunger country were submitted. people a day. Sodexo has 5 Chestnut St., Worcester, Karen Peloquin, seen here with husband Foundation, and will be Sodexo District Manager a nomination for people Karen and husband, Paul, won the “Heroes of Everyday Life” at aminor@ going on a trip to Maryanne Conroy-Miller who help the homeless award and will be headed to Washington to stonebridgepress.com Please Read HERO, page A13 accept the honor. 2 • Friday, May 11, 2012 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Local fire chief earns accreditation BY ADAM T. SILVA certifications necessary for the post-high school education, with day course and a half point for each department or even the community, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER award. three points for a college certificate, three hour night program for the he said. He noted that it was similar UXBRIDGE — Uxbridge Fire “I am dedicated to providing the five points for an Associate’s Massachusetts Firefighting to taking a civil service exam, which Chief Bill Kessler was granted highest level of service to this com- Degree, 10 points for a Bachelor’s Academy Course, other similar is necessary for the job. accreditation by the Massachusetts munity and have worked hard to Degree, 15 points for a Master’s courses or in-house training. For “The program was developed Fire Service Commission on April continue my education and experi- Degree and 20 for a Doctorate attending the National Fire after extensive research outlining 17. ence to bring a high level of profes- Degree. Academy,2 points for each six hours those skills important to today’s fire “The credentialing process began sionalism to this position,” said For completing the Fire or one day course. chief,” said State Fire Marshal about a year or so ago,” explained Kessler. “I appreciate that this Lieutenant Exam/Fire Officer Rank According to Kessler, the program Stephen Coan. “The process pro- Kessler, who became chief after for- accomplishment recognizes my ded- 1, five points can be earned, Fire was put together to hold fire chiefs vides an equal opportunity for the mer Chief Peter Ostroskey took the ication to be the best fire chief I can Captain Exam/Rank 2 earns 10 to a higher degree of professional- volunteer, call or full-time fire chief position of deputy state fire mar- for this community.” points, Deputy/District/Assistant ism. to meet the minimum criteria for shal at the Department of Fire Those credentialed will be Chief/Rank 3 earns 15 points and “Chiefs can say that they’ve got achieving fire chief accreditation.” Services in January. “The required to renew the credentials Department Chief/Rank 4 earns 20 the experience and they’ve got the Commission put some criteria every three years. The criteria points, with 20 points maximum. education certification,” he Adam T. Silva may be reached at together not so much for certifying, works on a system of points, with up Being certified with hazardous explained. “The initial credential- 508-909-4050 or by email at but more credentialing chiefs. It’s to 20 points can be earned for years materials at an operational level ing is renewed every three years. In [email protected]. based on experience, education and served in the fire system and up to earns 5 points, a technician level that three-year time period, there that sort of thing.” 10 points can be earned for years as earns 10, a Basic EMT earns 5 are a certain amount of The Commission deemed Kessler a fire officer, with two points earned points, an Intermediate EMT earns things you need to do. “ had demonstrated the required fire per year. 10 and a Paramedic EMT earns 15. Obtaining the credential- POLICE LOGS service experience, education and Up to 20 points can be earned for One point for each six hours, one ing is up to the chief, the NORTHBRIDGE POLICE ARRESTS NEWS BRIEFS April 28 Dennis C. McKeage, 61, 101 Upton Street. Operating under influence or liquor, leav- gram will take place. Two names will be ing scene of property damage accident. Uxbridge veterans to observe added to the Post Vietnam War Monument, Summary: n Saturday, April 28, at 5:57 Alan Joseph Stinchfield and John Anthony p.m., the Northbridge Police Department Memorial Day Harris,. Both will also serve as “Parade received multiple reports of a brush fire, Marshals.” Also James E. Givner and John possibly resulting from an automobile UXBRIDGE — Local Uxbridge veterans T. Givner will be honored as “Honorary fire, on Fowler Road, Northbridge. Upon have announced that final arrangements are Parade Marshals” and have their names arrival, officers could not locate a car fire, being made for activities scheduled for added to the Vietnam Monument.