PRSRT STD POSTAL U.S. POSTAGE PAID CUSTOMER PERMIT #231 ECR WSS SOUTHBRIDGE, MA 01550 Mailed weekly to every home in Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords 508-764-4325 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY/75¢ ON NEWSSTANDS ONLINE: WWW.WEBSTERTIMES.NET “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Friday, June 13, 2008 Skies may HEARTBREAKER John Radzinski remain dark photo WORCESTER — On Saturday, June 7, the Auburn Rockets for July 4 won the Central Mass. Division 2 finals, 11-1, over rival Oxford at WEBSTER NIXES FIREWORKS Tivnan Field. Pictured, DISPLAY, VOLUNTEER Oxford’s Joe Piscitelli did his SUPPORT LOW best to keep Auburn from BY PATRICK SKAHILL needed for police, novelties growing their TIMES STAFF WRITER and refreshments. lead. For the WEBSTER — It seems like In the past, Webster would story, turn to the skies will remain quiet budget $20,000 for the dis- page A12. in Webster this play in town, but Independence Day as nei- Department of Public ther the town nor any vol- Works Director Dennis unteers are stepping up to Westgate, who has been the plate to back Webster’s coordinating the display for annual fireworks display. nine years, said the show Oxford may see 34% water rate hike Arnie Villatico, owner of was taken out of the budget Periwinkle’s Restaurant in a few years ago. North Oxford, has been “A couple of years ago, I RESIDENTS MAY BE FORCED TO PAY $9 MORE MONTHLY IF APPROVED shooting the display in town don’t remember exactly BY PATRICK SKAHILL night] on July 8, so we’ll see what hap- for approximately 12 years, which year, the fireworks TIMES STAFF WRITER pens then,” said Board of Selectman but says he is not surprised display was cut,” he said. OXFORD — Officials from Aquarion Vice Chairman Hank LaMountain late “They’re going to do Webster could not fund the “However, a group of indi- Water Company came before the Board last week. “But the numbers are what show this year. viduals in the town took it of Selectmen last week, outlining their they are … it really [ticks] me off.” their dog-and-pony “With the money the way upon themselves to solicit plans for a nearly 34-percent rate hike Millbury,which currently makes up 19 show [during a public it is in town, I can under- donations and was able to for Oxford and Millbury customers. percent of Aquarion’s customer base, information night] on stand it,” he said. “But for raise the money needed to If approved by the Massachusetts ate up nearly 42 percent of the compa- as long as I can remember, I have the event.” Department of Public Utilities (MA ny’s budget over the past seven years. July 8, so we’ll see don’t think Webster has Usually, however, volun- DPU), this rate hike would equate to a Oxford, whose approximate 2,500 cus- what happens then … gone without fireworks.” teers started this process near 25-percent boost in water service tomers comprise 14 percent of the corpo- Villatico, whose shows are many months prior to July, revenues for the company. ration’s users, exhausted only 15 percent But the numbers are supplied by Alonzo which left ample time for While the rate hikes are slated to be of that very same budget. what they are … it Fireworks, based out of them to solicit quotes for uniform between Oxford and Millbury, “I personally don’t think that’s fair to Mechanicville, N.Y., said the display and to coordi- however, several town officials are argu- someone in Oxford,” said selectman really [ticks] me off.” costs for a show usually run nate vendors to sell novel- ing the company’s expenses since 2001 Daniel Coonan. around $25,000 to $28,000 ties, food and advertise the -Board of Selectman Vice have been nothing of the sort. Chairman Hank LaMountain and are all inclusive — tak- “They’re going to do their dog and ing into account money Turn To FIREWORKS, page 15 pony show [during a public information Turn To WATER RATES, page 15 Accepting the challenge… DUDLEY RESIDENT PREPPING FOR 26TH PAN MASS CHALLENGE BY PATRICK SKAHILL TIMES STAFF WRITER DUDLEY — Since it’s humble beginnings in 1980, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) has exploded into one of the most successful fundraisers in the nation, with the event’s 5,000- plus bike riders annually raising nearly 50 per- cent of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Courtesy Photo Jimmy Fund revenue. Shepherd Hill graduate Kathleen Walsh, left, and junior Chelsea Dodge take time for Courtesy Photo Now entering into its 29th year, the PMC a photo during their rally outside the White House in Washington D.C. Walsh, who Barry Davis on his bicycle during a fundraising demonstration at a served as Student Council president during the past school year, worked diligently local supermarket. Davis annually raises thousands of dollars to par- Turn To PMC, page 15 since her junior year to develop genocide awareness at Shepherd Hill by spearhead- ticipate in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, one of the most suc- ing events such as the school’s “Dodge for Darfur” night and the recent visit of Francis Bok, a former Sudanese slave to the school. HATS OFF! To D.C., for Darfur SHEPHERD HILL RECOGNIZED FOR ‘SAVE DARFUR’ EFFORTS %BY PATRICK SKAHILL the all-expenses-paid trip Thursday, TIMES STAFF WRITER June 5, staying in downtown D.C. WASHINGTON — Two students until last Saturday. from Shepherd Hill Regional High Shepherd Hill was one of 10 School won a trip to Washington, schools chosen out of a pool of 113 D.C., last week, meeting with repre- nationwide to participate in the sentatives from the office of trip. Congressman Richard Neal, D- According to Student Council Mass., and leading Darfur advo- Advisor James Laliberte, factors cates Friday, June 6, following their for selection included the amount efforts to raise money and aware- of money raised and the creativity OXFORD - The Class of 2008 left in style Friday, June 6, as Oxford High School celebrated its commencement ceremonies. ness to end the genocide in Darfur. students utilized in heightening In commemorating the graduation season, the Webster Times will feature a special graduation supplement in next week's Recent graduate Kathleen Walsh, edition. Stay tuned! and rising senior Chelsea Dodge Turn To DARFUR, page 14 departed from Shepherd Hill on an SPORTS LEARNING Seniors ................. A5 Obituaries ............. B2 Learning .............A6-8 Events Calendar ...... B3 VER Viewpoint ..........A10-11 Real Estate ........Sect.B E CHAFFEE SCHOOL HOSTS Sports ..................A12 Legal Notices ..... Sect.B CHEERFUL AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR 6 56525 10421 3 PAGE A14 PAGE A8 INDEX 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, June 13, 2008 www.webstertimes.net ALMANAC QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We didn’t want to get into a slugfest with these guys. We hoped to get into a slower paced game. But I tip my hat to Auburn; they came to play.” -Oxford head coach Mike Daley following the Pirates’ 11-1 loss to rival Auburn in the Division 2 Championship Saturday, June 7. OPEN TO CLOSE DUDLEY DUDLEY TOWN HALL (508) 949-8000 Board of Selectmen (949-8001) Monday-Thursday . .8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays . .8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Evening appointments if needed. Note: Office hours are for selectmen’s secretary and town administrator. Selectmen do not hold office hours. Courtesy Photos Town Clerk (949-8004) Police arrested three teenagers last Thursday, June 5, following two car arsons in town. A blue Ford Explorer, pictured above, was one Monday-Thursday . .8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. of the cars torched by the suspects. Thursday nights . .5 to 7 p.m. Fridays . .9 a.m. to 1 p.m. An Oxford resident’s Ford Ranger, pictured above, was another one of the victims of the random arson case. DUDLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT (943-4411) Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week DUDLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT (949-8040) Teens arrested for car arsons Monday-Sunday . .6 a.m. to 6 p.m. BY PATRICK SKAHILL According to police, the owner set the two vehicles on fire. OXFORD TIMES STAFF WRITER said he heard vehicle doors closing Following their arrests late last OXFORD TOWN HALL (508) 987-6027 OXFORD — Police arrested three outside his home and upon making Thursday night, the suspects teenagers last Thursday, June 5, in his way to the window noticed the reportedly told police they had no Board of Selectmen connection with an allegedly ran- front end of his vehicle engulfed in personal connections to the vic- Monday-Friday . .9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. dom string of motor vehicle burn- flames. tims. Town Clerk (987-6032) ings in town. When police arrived, the victim Officer Jeromy Grniet and Monday-Friday . .9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Police Chief Michael Boss said gave authorities their first tip, say- Detective Bill Marcelonis from the suspects, one of which was a ing he saw a small white sport util- Oxford spearheaded the police OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT (987-0156) 16-year-old minor, claimed they ity vehicle fleeing the scene — a department’s investigation in con- For emergencies, call 911 torched the two vehicles last clue that ultimately helped police junction with officials from the OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT (987-6012) Wednesday for “kicks,” and quoted apprehend the suspects. Not 15 office of the Fire Marshall. Monday-Friday . .8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the suspects as telling detectives minutes after the first fire, author- Boss said sniffing dogs were the flaming cars “looked cool.” ities received another call, called in on Wednesday to help WEBSTER Eighteen-year-olds Joseph A.