Drew Ravenelle #11 pitches the ball. Linda Flibbert photo.

By Steev Riccardo

Worcester – The Shepherd Hill Rams football team accomplished something they had never done before when they beat the St. Peter-Marian Guardians 14-12 in Worcester this past Saturday afternoon in front of a huge crowd.

The 2-0 Rams have vaulted in recent Central Mass polls and are being regarded as one of the region’s superior teams and a win like this will only further their standing among the big boys.

The game was originally scheduled to be played Saturday night at Anna Maria College but was moved to St. Peter-Marian’s field due to the threat of the West Nile virus. Unfortunately, the field was not in great shape, but that managed not to be an issue in the game.

The Guardians took a 6-0 lead with 3 minutes left in the opening quarter to get on the board first.

The two teams then went on to battle for field position the rest of the first half with the defenses rising to the occasion every time either team threatened, resulting in no scoring in the half.

On one drive late in the second quarter the Rams pounded the ball down field behind their strong offensive line and the running of Brad Picard and Matt Vertucci and held the ball for seven minutes, but were stopped at the Guardians 7- yard line when they went for it on fourth down.

Vertucci put the Rams on the board during the second play of the third quarter when he broke free from the pack and ran 69 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Rams had tied it at 6-6.

The Rams threatened again moments later after holding the Guardians when Vertucci provided another spark with a 44-yard run, but the Guardians defense held them on the one-yard line when they once again went for it on fourth and goal.

The Guardians then put together a 99-yard scoring drive, which was aided by some key penalty calls on the Rams, to take a 12-6 lead with 5:49 left in the game.  Fortunately for the Rams in what turned out to be a key defensive play, Drew Ravenelle came up with a big play, breaking up the two-point conversion by the Guardians, which would have given them an eight-point lead.

Ravenelle and the Rams wasted little time getting the score back as the senior quarterback went 36 yards on a keeper and brought the Rams within two points.  Calm and collected as ever, Ravenelle then ran in for two more points on the conversion and the Rams led 14-12 with 4:48 left on the clock.

Following a pair of seven-yard gains by the Guardians, senior middle linebacker Chris Dutting made the defensive play of the game, picking off a pass and giving the Rams the ball back with 3:30 left.

The Guardians had one more chance with less than a minute left, but huge sacks by James McGuigan and Laudone GianLuca secured the Rams’ win.

Rams Head Coach Chris Lindstrom had high praise for his team after the game. “I think the determination of our players and the effort from them and just the will not to lose today was wonderful.  This was a big obstacle to overcome, they have great athletes and we have workers and that’s okay and that is what we do. It was the players today, it certainly wasn’t the coaches.”

“When you run the double wing you have to come to play every game or you are going to get hurt,” said Lindstrom. “They (the Rams) came to play.  We (the coaches) made a bunch of changes at half time, they listened to us and they went ahead and executed.”

Ravenelle, who managed a brilliant game for the Rams, was feeling pretty good afterwards. “There were a lot of things today that went against us but that is what makes us a great team, we can overcome that. Penalties are going to happen.”

“This is one of the best wins we have ever had here, the feeling I have today is just incredible,” said Ravenelle, who also praised teammate Matt Vertucci after the game  “Matt is one of the hardest workers on the team and he is one of the best at finding the holes and it showed on those two long runs.”

Defensive star Chris Dutting, who made the huge interception, feels that the Rams beat a very good team in the Guardians, “This team is usually one of the tougher teams we play. I know because after we play them I am usually in pain and want to crawl into bed.”

Dutting may have crawled in bed a little sore after this one, but he also probably had a smile on his face this time around.

The Rams will take on another very good team next Saturday afternoon in Dudley when they tangle with the Grafton Indians.

Rams players and coaches with the scoreboard that tells the story. Linda Flibbert photo.

Ram Brad Picard (#47) and Jake Gelb (#27) on defense. Steev Riccardo photo.

Read more about the Shepherd Hill Rams and high school football in the View From The Sidelines column published every week in The Patriot and contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with feedback and comments.

On agenda for Dudley-Charlton School Committee

By Becky Harvey
Patriot correspondent

The monthly meeting of  the Dudley-Charlton school committee was held on Wednesday, September 12, at 7 p.m. at Shepherd Hill.  After a brief opening, the Citizen’s Forum commenced, at which time a Charlton Middle School dad raised issue with the newly amended dress code.  At issue is the rule that dresses, skirts and shorts are to be no more than two inches above the knee.  The dad had problems finding clothes to meet this rule. He also noted that when picking up his 7th grade daughter at the middle school, he counted no fewer than thirty students technically breaking the dress code rule.  Committee Chairwoman, Geraldine Nowichi, commented that this was not the first time she’d heard the complaint.  She agreed to add the issue to the next meeting’s agenda.

Superintendent Sean Gilrein has been informed that the municipal water line is ready for connection to the Charlton Elementary School.  Despite this, he stated that the school will not be able to be connected before the summer of 2013 due to the fact that the work will require a total shut-down of the water system.  “This work won’t be completed in a week,” Gilrein said.  He also estimated the price at somewhere around $65-75,000.  It is a  “complicated, non-budgeted item in a very complicated year.”  There is a concern with the independent water supply from the school’s well.  At the end of August, there was a slight issue with water quality.  Though not considered an emergency, the well tested positively for coliform (a bacteria) in a number of separate tests.  Daily testing was performed for roughly a week, and a thorough cleaning was performed on the well.  Despite the problem being adequately resolved for the time-being, Gilrein urged that this public, highly used building be upgraded in the form of being hooked to municipal water.  Gilrein  commented that he would be approaching the Town of Charlton with regards to the hook-up.  A number of committee members chimed in that the town, not the school department, ought to be responsible for funding the connection where the school is a town-owned building.

Gilrein notified the board that the opportunity to provide flu-shots, at a fee, had arisen.  Details have not been solidified, but with the approval of the members, he said he would pursue accommodating students and teachers in this way.  Nowicki noted that they should not give favor to one pharmacy over another, so Gilrein will look into opportunities that would not raise questions of favoritism.

Terri Caffelle, principal at the Elementary school, briefed the committee about a presentation being made at the Charlton Middle School called “The Sensory Supportive Classroom.”  The free program will be run on September 27 at 6:30pm until 9pm.  The program is geared to parents and families to help deal with issues of Sensory Processing.

The issue of severe food allergies was addressed due to the rising numbers of students in the district who are affected by this problem.  Gilrein proudly announced that the bus drivers will once again be trained in epipen use.  In recent years, the bus companies had backed away from taking on the responsibility of training their drivers.  The superintendent is extremely pleased that this has been accomplished.  He further stated that he intends to include language in all future bussing contracts that include mandatory training of all bus drivers.

The triple-E and West Nile virus thread was discussed briefly.  As there are no night football games in currently affected areas, there are no current cancellations.  This would of course change, should the areas become dangerous.  As it stood at the time of the meeting, there was no foreseeable danger.

Director of food services, Andy Panayiotou, attended the meeting to discuss the new changes to the menus and available foods to students and the school’s participation in the subsidized food program.  The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 has made changes necessary.  He began by stating that this new law was a bipartisan decision that makes lots of sense.  School meals impact millions of students every day.  The law takes aim at obesity.  The new regulations require that the schools must serve, not offer, but actually serve vegetables, fruits, a starch, grains and proteins at every meal.

Panayiotou commented on the fact that many adults have noticed wasted food that the students are throwing away.  There is no way to get around that, as the food service people must, by law, put each on the plate of a student who purchases a meal through the schools.  Selectman Raymond Chalk commented on a visit to one of the school cafeterias last week.  He claimed that out of the first six students to the trash bucket, he saw a number of apples, entire salads  and servings of veggies, as well as whole, untouched pieces of whole wheat bread being scraped into the trash.  He said that the only food noticeably eaten was the chicken patties.  The waste was shocking.

William Trafone, the finance director, spoke to the high cost of food versus the low price that is charged.  Meeting the new regulations seems to be quite a challenge to the schools, finding the balance between cost, good tasting food and the ability to get students to eat it.  Elaine Rabbit suggested trying to educate the parent-base on this new federal regulation.  Though the “cart may have been put before the cart” with regards to this issue, we need to try and make the best of it.  The cost of this new program is estimated to cost over 6.8 million dollars.

Gilrein appeared disgusted by the fallout of this new regulation.  “If I were a local farmer, I’d be heartbroken seeing the fruits of my hard labor being thrown in the garbage…. Common sense has to prevail.”  His stance will be to work with the authorities but to make sure that what the schools do aren’t hurting the children in the long run.  Nowicki agreed in showing her frustration.  The regulations don’t seem to make sense and may even be counter-productive.  “I could see this backfiring and causing a rise in obesity.”

ACO resigns, street lights to go off

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - John Lafleche, Bay Path Regional High School Superintendent, met with selectmen to present the facts about the upcoming district-wide vote for renovation of the 45-year old school. The basic premise came down to costs for Dudley property owners and this was based on a majority of positive votes for the renovation project to bring the school up to state and federal standards.

Dudley’s share of the cost breaks down to a $16/year increase in property taxes for the 1st year and $49/year thereafter on a 30-year bond. These rates are very conservative according to Mr. Lafleche, who said the rates were based on a 5% interest rate of borrowing, but that the anticipated true rate would be less. Total cost of the renovation is $73.8 million with a $46.5 million reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Association (MSBA). Dudley’s share of the cost is $2,838,633.

“For the 10-town district to leave $46.5 million on the table would not be right,” stated Mr. Lafleche. “If the district towns don’t approve the project, which we have been in line for the past 10 years awaiting, the district loses the financial assistance from the MSBA and then all district towns will be 100% responsible for the cost of repairs needed for the building now and over the next 5 years.”  Special election for the project is scheduled for Thursday, October 4, from noon – 8 p.m. in each of the 10 district towns: Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, North Brookfield, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer, and Webster.

The board approved a new fee schedule for the use of the Dudley Senior Center/Municipal Complex; reduced and approved several charges for cemetery fees and allocations; and reviewed the Ready Bus – Workforce service request indicating that Dudley residents would not be able to participate in the program’s startup as financial facts must be brought before the board for prior approval.

Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski presented a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan put together by the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission with input from Nancy Runkle, Town Planner. The report deals with improving infrastructure due to events such as floods, tornadoes, blizzards, etc. and in the event of such disasters the Town would be eligible for grant funding from federal and state emergency management agencies.

Historical books donated by Mr. Copeland of Stevens Linen Company were presented to the Historical Commission by Selectman John Marsi. The books dated from the 1850’s and included ledgers, inventory lists, etc. Mr. Ed Bazinet advised the Board that the historical records were being stored in the Town’s climate-controlled vault for safe-keeping.

Selectmen also reviewed the Annual Fall Town Meeting warrant schedule, with the opening on Mon., 9/10; closing on Tues., 9/25; and posting deadline on Mon., 10/15.

Town Treasurer/Collector Richard Carmignani, Jr., along with Brian Boyle, the town’s health insurance consultant, then reviewed health insurance costs for the Board. It was noted that the Town is a member of a group composed of Dudley, Charlton, and Bay Path using Blue Cross/Blue Shield as opposed to the use of the Group Insurance Commission (“GIC”) plans. Mr. Boyle advised the board of current BC/BS health insurance premiums of $1,600/monthly vs. GIC’s rates of over $2,000/monthly. He presented positive information related to BC/BS as saving the town additional monies by not offering a cafeteria plan like that of GIC with multiple choices, premiums, and varying co-pays, which would become a constantly-changing series of monthly billings.

Selectmen also discussed special legislation to reimburse the town for out-of-district student expenses for a town resident-student who will attend a Norfolk High School. It was noted that annual expenses for tuition plus transportation would be approximately $45,000. Sharing transportation costs with a student from Charlton would save approximately $10,000 with a reimbursement rate of another 10%, the final annual costs to the town would be in the area of $33,344, according to Town Administrator Peter Jankowski.

Selectmen Peter Fox and John Marsi distributed a new Department Head/Employee Review System, consisting of an orderly graph of employee goals and objectives with associated benchmarks and timelines. Various planning, progress, and final rating phases would be used and implemented to ensure town employment goals and objectives were being met. The board endorsed the review system.

Animal Control Officer Sheila Donohue then came before the board to offer her resignation due to accepting employment in a full-time position. Ms. Donohue explained her reasons for departure, which included a small budget, long hours, low pay, and lack of clothing allowance. She was quick to point out, however, that all town departments she had contact with were polite, cooperative, and helpful. Volunteers at the shelter were praised as well. Board members appeared taken aback at her resignation but were relieved when Ms. Donohue offered to stay on until her replacement was found. She was commended by board members for her work as Animal Control Officer and was wished well in her future employment.

One of the last items on the agenda was the shutting off of approximately 100 streetlights around town. Chairman Jonathan Ruda stated that “the board was under mandate from town residents who voted at the last town meeting to reduce the street lighting bill by $11,243. The people have spoken.” Under direction from Police Chief Steven Wojnar, Fire Chief Kochanowski, and Highway Superintendent Danny Gion, street lights would be scheduled for turn-off in the very near future. If residents choose to “adopt-a-light” they may do so by contacting National Grid.

Additional agenda items reviewed by the Board included accepting minutes of their last meeting of Aug. 20th; appointing Wayne Resener to the Conservation Commission with a term to expire on 6/30/15 (Mr. Resener was not present); accepting, with regret, the resignation of William Fyffe as Library Trustee, effective 9/10/12; approving the transfer of an all-alcohol liquor license from Bill’s Café of Dudley d/b/a Koko’s to Coaches Corner, Inc. d/b/a Coaches Corner, owners Anthony and Melissa Paranto; granting one-day liquor licenses to Nichols College for 9/21/12’s Homecoming, 10/19/12’s President’s Society Dinner, and 10/19/12’s Donor Recognition Day.

Board members in attendance were: Steven Sullivan, Chairman Jonathan Ruda, Peter Fox, and John Marsi. Selectman Paul Joseph was absent. Also present were Peter Jankowski, Town Administrator, and Michelle Jervis, Administrative Secretary.

Former WWE star Doane puts on a Nichols jersey.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – When a 26-year old enrolls into a college and decides to try out for the football team after not playing since he was 18-- and then makes it-- it’s a story. 

Imagine if that same 26-year old is a professional wrestler who has wrestled in main events for the WWE and against some of the biggest names in the business, including Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H?  Doesn’t seem possible does It? Well believe it, because it’s happening as we speak at Nichols College.

Ken Doane was born in Southbridge and grew up living in Dudley, Oxford, and Charlton. He attended Shepherd Hill in the seventh grade and Oxford Junior High in the eighth grade before attending, playing football, and  graduating from Bay Path Regional.

He watched his family move from house to house during his youth and saw his Mom go through hard times first hand. “She told me to find something that I like to do and get paid to do it and then I will be really happy. I was about 12 when she said that and I loved football and I loved wrestling, so that’s what I did.”

Most twelve-year-old kids, however, wouldn’t do what Doane did next. “I got a ride to the WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, and I went in and asked for an application and they laughed at me.  They looked at me like I was crazy.  It was a long ride home.” 

Actually, the WWE told him he was too young to apply and that he should look into going to wrestling school instead, so he went home and looked up wrestling schools online.

“I heard that the hardest school and the most successful school was Killer Kowalski’s school in Malden.” Now most kids would probably continue to go to school and play football and at least get a little older, but not Doane.  Now 13, Doane found a ride to Malden and sought out Kowalski, who told him he couldn’t train because he was too young, but when the wrestling trainer saw that Doane wouldn’t take no for an answer he told him he would need a note from a lawyer to train with him because of his age.

Doane convinced his mom that he needed this note and they went to a lawyer and got it and somehow he was able to start attending the gym in Malden whenever he could get a ride there.

“The first six months he (Kowalski) wouldn’t let me in the ring and he made me learn the basics of wrestling on the side so I would do that over and over again.”  Eventually he started wrestling and would make tapes of all his moves and matches and started sending them to the WWE.

Dr. Tom Pritchard, who was one of the company's top talent scouts, saw some of his tapes and called him when he was 16 and told him that they wanted to bring him in and take a look at him regardless of his age.

Before long, he  started wrestling on TV shows as Ken Phoenix or Ken Doane and would have to miss school every Tuesday after wrestling at Monday Night Raw shows on Mondays in New England.  Eventually teachers and fellow students at Bay Path started finding out what he was up to.

One time his history teacher called him out on it after seeing him wrestle on TV, but no one at the school could object because this was his job and he had his Mother’s permission.  Somehow he maintained his grades, played football under head football coach Al Dhembe and wrestled when the WWE needed him.

He said that neither Dhembe nor assistant football coach Tony Salvaggio thought he that he would make it as a wrestler and didn’t take what he was doing seriously.

“I saw Tony Salvaggio a few years ago and he said they doubted me then, but that I was the only person that played football there who  said they were going to do something and actually did it.”

He continued to do wrestling shows, when WWE’s executive John Laurenitis found out he wasn’t 18 and tried to stop him from wrestling.  Once again Doane’s persistency allowed him to stick around and when he graduated from Bay Path, Laurenitis gave him a WWE contract and he was sent to the company's camp in Louisville, Kentucky, to train. 

It didn’t take long for the WWE to recognize that Doane was a real talent and he became Kenny in the Spirit Squad, a storyline that was created by none other than Vince McMahon, the head of the company.

At WrestleMania 22, Doane worked a match between McMahon and Michaels where he tried to help McMahon beat Michaels. “That didn’t end up working out so well since Shawn won.”

“The next night on Monday Raw I pinned The Big Show. I  also beat Shawn in a cage match.”

Soon Doane began wrestling under the moniker of Kenny Dykstra and had a long and successful story line with legend Ric Flair, in which he became the only wrestler ever to beat Flair in three consecutive matches. “It was amazing, when you think of Ric Flair you think of the best of all time, that was really cool.”

“At New Year's Revolution I came out in a cape just like Flair wears and no one knew I was going to do it, the crowd was hating on me so bad.”

As Dykstra, Doane also worked with another legend, Triple H (Hunter Hearst Hemsley), who also trained with Kowalski before turning pro.

“Triple H is a very smart. Any time I had a question, whether it was personal, business, whatever, I would ask him.”

In 2008 Doane was released from his WWE contract because “they were going through a lot of different layoffs and a lot of us were getting paid a lot of money and they didn’t have a story line for me at the time, plus my body was breaking down; traveling 270 days a year is really hard.”

He continued to be successful wrestling independently, as he still does, but decided to move home to Dudley to be close to his family. “My brother and my sister both ended up having kids and I wanted to see them grow up so I moved back to Dudley. When you get older you get wiser. I am still wrestling on the side and making good money, but I thought, what is going to happen if I get hurt.  So I figured since I was going to be here for the next four years, there is a college (Nichols) right near my house, why don’t I go and have my plan so if I do get hurt I can still do something that I like.”

“I have always loved football and I always set goals for myself. My first dream was to get to the WWE and I set that and my second goal after wrestling was to get a degree and play college football.”

Doane now has this opportunity and plans to take full advantage of it.  “I can make my own schedule and I can slow things down work-wise with wrestling, and financially I am set. I can take 10 weeks, 12 weeks, however long the season is, into this and go full force. That is where I at now.”

Once he was accepted at Nichols, Doane sought out Nichols head football coach Kevin Loney and told the coach of his intentions, and he made the team.

“He (Loney) has his beliefs and as a team we have to follow him. If we go against him, the team will be 0-10 again.  If I am on the field, I expect greatness from everyone else, including myself, and I told the coach I would play wherever he puts me.”

Last week Loney spoke highly of Doane and he called him his tight end. Doane will be majoring in Sports Management at the school.

Doane left us with these words of wisdom. “Life is always a journey, it's always going to throw curve balls at you, I am not looking four years down the road right now, I have to get through today and do the best I can do today, and then tomorrow I have to compare myself to yesterday and make sure tomorrow that I am better than I was yesterday.”

For comments and feedback, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

CORRECTION-- Last week's story about the apppointment of Officer James Hutchinson to the post of sergeant indicated that the vote had been unanimous. This was not correct. The board first voted 3-2 in favor of Mr. Hutchinson's appointment, with selectmen Steven Sullivan and Paul Joseph against. After a reconsideration and new vote to show board support for the appointment, Mr. Sullivan changed his vote and it became 4-1. In his reasons for moving to appoint Mr. Hutchinson, selectman John Marsi said, "We had three great candidates, so this was a very difficult decision. In making a decision, I looked at all of the data we had available to us. I grew up in a blue collar family, and my father worked for the Town of Wilmington for 37 years in the highway department, and I believe that seniority means something." Of the three candidates, Officer Hutchinson had the most seniority.

In addition, we also wish to correct comments attributed to selectman Peter Fox after the board meeting. Mr. Fox said that the personnel files were reviewed in executive session, a standard procedure for personnel matters, but that the actual decision on the appointment was made in the public meeting. He did not say that the decision had been made in the executive session. Mr. Fox also explained that the executive session minutes, while approved, had not been released; therefore, he could not elaborate on them.

Press Release
Dudley Police Department
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
    

On Wednesday, August 29, 2012, at approximately 1:11 am, Dudley Police and Dudley Fire and Emergency Services Personnel were dispatched to 14 Dudley Hill Road for a report of a motor vehicle on fire.

Upon arrival, it was discovered that three motor vehicles in the yard of the residence had been set on fire.  A tree stump in the lot next to the residence was also burned.  The vehicles had been extinguished by the homeowner prior to the officer’s arrival.  All three vehicles suffered damages.  It is believed some personal items, which were contained in the vehicles, had been burned at the tree stump in the adjacent lot.   

The home owner provided officers with the name of a possible suspect along with a video tape of this incident.

Later in the day, Officer Marek Karlowicz, Sergeant Dean Poplawski, State Trooper Gregory Spahl of the State Fire Marshall’s Office, and Dudley Fire Captain David Konieczny reviewed the video and conducted further investigation.

The officers arranged for two female subjects to come to the Dudley Police Department for interviews.  Based upon information obtained through the review of the video and talking with suspects and witnesses, the officers arrested Kimberly Waitkevich, age 36 of 32 Partridge Hill Road in Dudley.  She was charged with several offenses including Burning of Motor Vehicles, Burning Personal Property, Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle with Intent to Commit a Felony, Destruction of Property under $250, and other offenses.  A second female subject is being summoned into court at a later date on similar charges. 

The case remains under investigation.  

The Dudley Police wish to thank the Dudley Fire Department and the State Fire Marshall’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.      

Corrections to this article are posted 8-31-12

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - Questions remain for the general public as to why the Board of Selectmen, at their last meeting, chose to appoint James Hutchinson as the new Dudley Police sergeant over the recommendation of the independent police chiefs’ panel. The independent panel’s recommendation was Marek Karlowicz. The three-member committee was made up of police chiefs from northern Worcester County and selectmen had voted to have the group established to interview, review, and recommend their choice of a new sergeant. Police Chief Wojnar also wanted a fair and independent process.

When Sergeant Pamela Daniels announced her retirement in September 2011, Selectmen voted to have an outside committee make recommendations for her replacement.  Police Chief Wojnar suggested a committee made up of outside police chiefs to save the Town money versus using an assessment center which would have cost several thousand dollars. The three candidates considered by the panel were: Chandler Boyd, James Hutchinson, and Marek Karlowicz. The panel had recommended Mr. Karlowicz, and Chief Wojnar’s practice is to accept the committee’s recommendation.

At the August 20 selectmen’s meeting, however, member John Marsi made the motion to appoint Mr. Hutchinson based on seniority, stating that “my father was a long-term employee in another town and it’s good to know that seniority stands for something.” All members were not unanimous in their original vote, but after a brief discussion and amendment, the appointment became unanimous. According to the Police Chief, the selectmen are the final appointing authority.

After the meeting, selectman Peter Fox was asked why the board did not go along with the independent panel’s recommendations and he responded that the decision was made in Executive Session and since those minutes were not yet approved for release to the public, he could not elaborate. Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the board will not meet again until Monday, September 10, and, therefore, those minutes will not be released until then.

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - After awaiting feedback from the Town of Dudley for a number of months regarding her high school attendance choice, Elizabeth Leclaire will begin her freshman year at Norfolk County Agricultural High School (NCAHS) in Walpole MA on September 6.  Her mom, Gail Leclaire, said she is proud of her daughter as she begins her education focused on large animal veterinary science. (Large animal veterinarians are scarce due to greater income potential realized for small animal vets and, therefore, many college students adjust their studies to focus on the small animal field.) Both Elizabeth and her older sister have been involved with their local 4H organization for eight years, and they show horses, beef cows, and other livestock. They absolutely love the activities and the animals, said Mrs. Leclaire.

Elizabeth has become a lightning rod for school choice in Dudley, however, as she exercised her state-mandated right to attend a high school offering agricultural-based animal science. But she is not alone. Another young lady from Lancaster recently became that town’s new student at NCAHS and Charlton also has students who attend there.

On Saturday, August 18, the Massachusetts Department of Education Commissioner advised Elizabeth’s mom that Dudley’s denial of her school choice had been overturned. Mass. General Laws Chapter 74, Section 7, states “residents of towns not maintaining/offering the type of education desired, may, upon the approval of the commissioner under the direction of the state board, be admitted to a school in another town.”

The cost to the town will be $22,000 per year plus transportation.

Elizabeth has been through a long process for her beginning steps to large animal vet science. She and her family had researched high schools offering the classes she needed in Bristol, Walpole (where NCAHS is located), Northampton, and Essex. She applied to NCAHS in early 2012 and was accepted through the faculty interview process. Of 400 applicants there are only 150 openings. On March 27 she filled out her section of the non-resident application and awaited School Superintendent Sean Gilrein’s signature as well as the Town of Dudley’s approval/disapproval, with ten days being the customary response time. On August 2 she received a courtesy phone call from Mr. Gilrein advising her that, due to financial constraints, the Town was disapproving her school choice. An appeal was made to the State Education Commissioner, and his decision was rendered last week.

Elizabeth will now pursue her strengths in science and apply that knowledge to achieve her goal of veterinary science, and one day she may be addressed as  Elizabeth Leclaire, DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

The State Education Commission notified the family of Elizabeth Leclaire last night that Dudley’s denial of funding for her attendance at the school of her choice has been over-ruled. Ms. Leclaire is a Dudley resident/student who has chosen to attend an out-of-area school with an annual cost to the town of $22,000 plus transportation. Due to budget cutbacks, School Superintendent Sean Gilrein had recently denied Ms. Leclaire’s request. According to State statute, the School Superintendent must approve or deny such requests.

Selectmen appoint new police sergeant

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink" could be the words being repeated in the Town after E. coli bacteria were found in Dudley’s water supply following a standard monthly water test performed last week. As of Monday, August 20, the town had still not received approval from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") to cancel the Tier I – Boil Water Alert for Dudley citizens.

Contamination may be from ongoing road construction in the Dudley-Oxford Road area but is not definitive and the source may never be known. When monthly sampling was performed in the high school area by Water Deptartment employees, and those samples had been sent to the testing lab, E. coli results came back positive. The DEP was notified immediately and George Patrinos, assistant water superintendent, took immediate steps to chlorinate and shock both town water supplies as well as to flush hydrants for contaminants. Grit was found both upstream and downstream from the contamination area and the Water Department is anticipating a lifting of the Boil Water Alert by Tuesday, August 21.

Both Mr. Patrinos and Water Commissioner Jay Spahl were in the hot seat at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, explaining how the contamination could have occurred, as well as the plans to rectify the communication breakdown about the Boil Water Notice and the unfortunate series of miscommunications to notify townspeople. The "Reverse 911" system (an emergency auto-dial phone system that would alert each resident of the water ban) was unavailable due to budget cuts, prompting the town’s emergency request to use the County Sheriff’s "Reverse 911" system. Unfortunately, the personnel at the Sheriff’s Dept. were unfamiliar with the system’s programming procedures, resulting in duplicate/triplicate phone calls to many residents and no phone calls to others. Dudley Selectmen were then bombarded by residents for explanations of the repetitive phone notifications; however, Carol Cyr, a Dudley resident, came before the Board and expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of emergency alerts from the Town. Ms. Cyr stated that "I was notified by a Sutton resident of the E. coli and water ban and would never have known about this emergency otherwise." Selectmen, water department personnel, and Fire Chief Kochanowski agreed that emergency procedures must be reviewed in detail, implemented immediately, and that all town departments must be mutually educated on the procedures. A progress report would be submitted by Mr. Kochanowski at the next Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 10.

Selectmen appointed James Hutchinson to the position of Police Sergeant. The appointment countered the recommendation of Police Chief Steven J. Wojnar and an interviewing panel of local police chiefs, who had recommended Marek Karlowics for the position..

Selectmen made made other appointments as follows: reappointment of Mary Kunkle to the Dudley Cultural Council until 6/30/13; new appointment of Nancy Runkle to the position of Sexual Harassment Officer until 6/30/13 pending proper training to be completed immediately; James Koebke to the Conservation Commission – term expiration 6/30/15 - Mr. Koebke’s dairy farm is listed as the last one of its kind in Dudley and has been in his family since 1910; and Fred Sugar as Government Access Manager – term expiration 6/30/13.

A public hearing was also held approving a Class II second-hand vehicle license to Jack Nasiff of 65 Schofield Avenue and then a formal introduction to the Board of Dudley’s new Library Director, Nancy Barta-Norton, who expressed her enthusiasm for her new position. The Library Trustees also received unanimous approval to transfer approximately $62,000 received from the Janet Malser Trust to their Endowment Fund, currently holding $1.2 million. Tim O’Day, Executive Director of the South Central Massachusetts Elderbus, then made a presentation for a pilot transportation program that would be available to any age group of Dudley & Webster residents. Costs would be subsidized by the towns and the test program would begin on September 1.

Michael Borkowski of EPG Solar returned to the Board in order to finalize the solar-panel farm contract. Electricity savings to the town once the project was up and running were discussed, along with the amended portion of the contract allowing a 5-year operations/savings review approval. The board’s final items approved were a Board of Health request to use the Clarinda Wood Fund in the amount of $40 to pay Harrington Hospital for Health Services in July 2012 and increasing the Town’s mileage reimbursement amount from 48.5 cents/mile to 49 cents/mile.

Items tabled until the next regular meeting were: cemetery fees/allocations; Senior Center/Dudley Municipal Complex facility user fee schedules; selection process for real property disposal at One Village Way & 63 West Main Street; Treasurer/Collector by-law request; and a pre-disaster mitigation plan review with Nancy Runkle, Town Planner.