Campaign fueled by anonymous $4 million challenge match

WEBSTER, Mass. -- Harrington HealthCare System launched a fundraising campaign March 16, 2012, to rebuild the Emergency Department at its Webster campus, Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard. The $8.8 million Strengthening Our Future campaign will enable Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard to continue to deliver the highest quality care to its patients.

Harrington HealthCare System CEO Edward H. Moore announced the campaign at a Strengthening Our Future kick-off ceremony at Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard and that Harrington has a $4 million anonymous challenge match from a local donor. The campaign also has received an additional $434,500 in donations and pledges from local individuals, businesses and five financial institutions -- Webster Five Foundation, Savers Bank, Southbridge Savings Bank, Hometown Bank, and a grant from TD Bank which will partially fund donor management software.  Combined with the anonymous match, the total amount pledged comes to $869,000.

The event was attended by residents, Harrington employees and local, state and federal officials, including Congressman Richard Neal, State Senator Richard Moore, and State Representatives Kevin Kuros, Peter Durant and Ryan Fattman.

“We have been extremely gratified by the generosity of both the businesses and the individuals in this community during our initial silent phase of the campaign,” Harrington CEO Edward H. Moore said. “Since 1929, this site has been the focal point of healthcare for individuals, institutions and businesses in Webster, Dudley, Douglas, Oxford, Thompson and surrounding communities. Meeting our campaign goals will ensure that those who live and work in this region will continue to receive state-of-the-art healthcare, close to home, for many years to come.”

“This Emergency Department has always been an essential piece of the Webster community,” said Terri Colognesi, Chairman of the Board of Harrington HealthCare System. “The opportunity to expand and renovate the ER into a bright, modern ER facility with board-certified ER docs is one that is a winning proposal for Webster and its surrounding communities.  It is a commitment by Harrington HealthCare for Total Local Care in South Central Worcester County – and only means good things for the area’s citizens, schools and employers.”

Harrington has received donations or commitments from every member of the Hubbard Health Systems Board of Directors, said Pamela Zouranjian Connor, Site Administrator at Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard. Harrington has a 10-year renewable lease on the land and the facility at 340 Thompson Road in Webster, which is owned by Hubbard Health Systems.

“The Emergency Department at Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard is a key component of healthcare in this region,” said Zouranjian Connor. “The Emergency Department currently handles 12,000 visits per year, a number that is expected to grow to approximately 15,000 in the next three years. In order to continue to meet the healthcare needs of this community, we must expand and modernize this facility.”

“As a longtime advocate of Harrington Hospital, I am very pleased to be a part of this important fund-raising campaign,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal. “Not only does it represent Harrington's continuing investment in the community, but is another example of their commitment to bring quality and emergency care to South County. I congratulate CEO Ed Moore and the entire team at Harrington HealthCare System on today's announcement, and I look forward to being an enthusiastic supporter of the campaign.”

“In an emergency, seconds count!  There can be no higher health priority than providing the people of the Webster area with a first-class emergency hospital department to support the skilled emergency professionals who serve us and care for us and our loved ones at critical moments in our lives,” said State Senator Richard T. Moore, who is the State Senate Chairman of the Committee on Health Care Financing.

To make a charitable donation to the campaign, please go to www.harringtonhospital.org.

The Emergency Department at Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard was constructed in 1955 and has not had a major renovation since that time. It has five beds in 430 square feet of space, an inadequate number of seats in the waiting area, and an ambulance entry that merges with the radiology entry, creating potential congestion.

Harrington is focused on providing the best possible care to patients in the Webster Emergency Department. Through a concerted effort from the entire staff, the average waiting time from arrival to being seen by a physician is 15 minutes, down from approximately an hour two years ago. In addition, Harrington has set a standard that the Emergency Department physicians be board certified in Emergency Medicine and the nursing staff be certified in Emergency Nursing.

The planned reconstruction of the Emergency Department includes the following important elements:

• Nine treatment rooms, including a Trauma, Cardiac and Negative Pressure Room,
• Expansion from 3,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet,
• The purchase and installation of all new state-of-the-art equipment,
• A private family waiting room,
• Improved patient privacy and comfort, including a new registration area to accommodate the increasing numbers of patients while protecting their privacy,
• Three separate areas for psychiatric emergency services patients,
• A rebuilt and enhanced ambulance entrance,
• A newly constructed main entrance and lobby.

Construction is expected to begin in the later part of 2012.

by Barbara Van Reed

The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley welcomed Alexxia Bell and Natasha Nowick to its March 7th club meeting. They are the founders of the Turtle Rescue League, based in Webster.

Ever drive by a little yellow smart car on the road with their website on it and wonder what it was all about? What about all those "Turtle Crossing" signs around town? Have you ever needed to stop your car to let a turtle pass?

Alexxia and Natasha explained all about these cold-blooded reptiles who have been around longer than dinosaurs. Not only have they been here for 280 million years, but they haven't changed much in the last 90 million of them - and can live to a ripe old age of 250 years or longer. Turtles are fused in their shells forever. The blood flows through the tips including nerve endings. They feel pain if even a small piece of their shell breaks off at the outer edge.

There are 10 species in Massachusetts and in the Webster area, 6 of which are endangered. The painted and snapping turtles are the most common ones. Musk turtles are the ones you see coming out at night. The eastern box turtle is not aquatic, is very rare, and is illegal to touch. Initially, they were found from Florida to Maine. They are now completely wiped out in New Hampshire and are considered extinct. The bog turtle, found in Western, MA, will probably be extinct in our lifetime due to its special habitat needed and the difficulty it has getting there due to the number of cars preventing access to the water inlets.

Since the snapping turtle is the most common around here, it was discussed in most detail (and seemed to enjoy visiting the Rotary meeting, too). It averages 60-70 lbs. and will live 60-100 years. They process their food with the sun (as do all turtles) so they like to stack on top of each other. Their shell is like a solar panel.

Alexxia and Natasha explained that if you see a turtle in the street, turn on your headlights, then help get it where it is going. Turtles are home range dependent. They can be picked up, but will die if they get lost. Alexxia demonstrated how to pick up a snapping turtle by scooping it up from underneath, holding its tail, and moving it across the road. Keep it low to the ground, as it won't even be aware that you have moved it until it has already gotten to the side of the road.

If you find an injured turtle on the road, it will most likely be a female full of eggs - she can hold up to 100 of them. Don't leave it on the street. You need to put it in a box and get it to Tufts so the eggs can hatch. Crushed turtles can live up to 3 days in pain. Contact the Turtle Rescue League (TRL) if you need assistance.

Female snapping turtles take 15-29 years before they are able to reproduce. Most make 1000 eggs in order to get just one to survive to full adulthood. When they are hatched, they are completely whole with their shell and are the size of a dime.

If a turtle is digging a hole in your yard, it is a female nesting. Pull in your pets and kids and watch. She appears to cry as she is actually keeping her eyes moist due to her time out of the water. Protect the eggs. Take chicken wire and make a dome. They will hatch in 60-90 days at which time you can move them to the body of water where you think the mother came from. Piles of loam and mulch are where you can find turtle nests. DON'T move the eggs or the nest! Not even 30 degrees or they will die. Call TRL if you find a nest.

Did you know that there is a law in Massachusetts called the 4" Law? It states that you can't purchase a pet turtle smaller than 4". The reason is so that children can't put them in their mouths. Another bit of turtle trivia is the longest trip on land for a snapping turtle was 14 miles from one lake to another. It took her 10 days to get there.

For those interested in more information on working with turtles, the Turtle Rescue League will be doing training at the Mass Audubon on Massasoit Road in Worcester from 10 a.m.-noon on April 7th. Alexxia and Natasha can be reached at 774-318-0734 and on the web at TurtleRescueLeague.com. They are always looking for people to adopt a rehabilitated turtle.

Please be sure to join The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley on March 21st when Diane Dias, from AAA, gives an update on their latest lobbying efforts. And on March 28th, Christine Zecker, from Cameron Hughes Wines, will teach us all how to choose the perfect wine. Just in time for the holidays!

The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley meets weekly on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:15 pm at Point Breeze in Webster. Meetings are open to the general public - and highly encouraged! Check us out on Facebook for our upcoming speakers - www.facebook.com/websterdudleyrotary. For more information regarding being a speaker, membership, or our upcoming projects, contact club PR chair Cheryl Rosen at (508) 791-9283 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio.

Caroline Smith

Caryl Savard makes acquaintance.

Workforce Central Career Centers invite job seekers from across Massachusetts

Boston – March 13, 2012 – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today announced that the Workforce Central Career Centers of Worcester, Milford, and Southbridge will host their second annual job fair with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League on Friday, March 16, 2012 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Worcester DCU Center.

Admission to the job fair is free and job seekers from across the Commonwealth are welcome. The fair will feature employers from across the Commonwealth with over 2,000 job opportunities in healthcare, bioresearch, education, software engineering, manufacturing, construction, retail, and more.

Attendees will be offered a buy-one-get-one-free ticket deal for the Worcester Sharks v. Providence Bruins game at 7:30 p.m., also at the DCU Center. The Sharks designated March 16 “Local Heroes Night” to honor veterans and public safety officials, and a group of U.S. Army recruits will be sworn into service at center ice during the game.

The Workforce Central Career Centers are among 34 one-stop career centers throughout the Commonwealth committed to providing job seekers with the quality resources, assistance, and support to get back to work. Please visit

www.mass.gov/careercenters to find a Career Center near you.

Beginning March 15 or immediately
thereafter 

WEBSTER - Beginning March 15 or immediately thereafter, the on-ramp to I-395 North at Exit 2 from Gore Road (Rt. 16) will be closed for bridge repair and painting. Webster DPW Director J. T. Gaucher said traffic will be detoured north to Sutton Road and then Cudworth Road to the next ramp for I-395 North at Exit 3. He said the detour will be posted clearly with orange signs warning motorists of the ramp closure and guiding them along the detour.

While work beneath the bridge is being performed, the contractor is required to keep all lanes open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Work on the bridge will begin in the early morning hours and go to 3 p.m., a long dayshift. Mr. Gaucher said the contractor will try to maintain one lane open in each direction as often as possible. The work is expected to take six months.

The Exit 2 project is part of the bridge rehabilitation plan for seven bridges along I-395, including the four in Webster, two of which have been completed. The project is funded and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Cardi Corporation is the contractor.

Town election calendar: Oxford

In Oxford, Town Clerk Lori A. Kelley posted the 2012 Election calendar as follows.

The positions listed are up for election. Incumbents are named, but are not necessarily standing for re-election.

Selectman, 3 years. Dennis Lamarche, incumbent.

School Committee, 3 years, Laura P. Coonan and Marc E. Peterson, incumbents.

School Committee, 2 years to fill a vacancy.

Library Trustee, for 3 years, John. J. Bowes, incumbent.

Housing Authority, 5 years, Howard R. Merson, incumbent.

Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District Committee, 3 years, Rene J. Hamel, incumbent.

Trustee of the Charles Larned Entertainment Fund, 3 years, Josph R. DePasquale, incumbent.

Trustee of the Charles Larned Entertainment fund, 2 years, Nancy A. Maki, incumbent

March 23 is the last day to obtain nomination papers, and March 27, at 5 p.m. is the last day and hour to submit papers to the Registrars of Voters for certification of signatures.

Nomination papers must be filed with the town clerk by April 10. Withdrawals of or objections to nomination must be filed by April 12.

The Annual Town Election is May 15.

Town election calendar: Dudley

In Dudley, Town Clerk Ora Finn has posted the following offices to be elected:

Selectman, 3 years, Nancy Runkle

Selectman, 3 years, Steven P. Sullivan

Town Treasurer, 3 years, Richard a. Carmignani, Jr.

Assessor, 3 years, Jo-Ann Szymczak

Dudley-Charlton Reg. School Committee, 3 years, Joseph M. Pietrzak

Board of Health, 3 years, Jennifer Cournoyer

Sewer Commissioner, 3 years, Constance Nedoroscik

Water Commissioner, 3 years, Jonathan R. Androlewicz

Library Trustee, 3 years, Benjamin Craver

Library Trustee, 3 years, Brian C. Dorval Jr.

Housing Authority, 5 years, Peter Teguis

Planning Board, 5 years, Christopher Reich

Nomination papers are available at the office of the Town Clerk. Fifty certified signatures are required.

The last day for candidates to obtain nomination papers is March 19, and they must be submitted with the Town Clerk/Board of Registrars by 5:00 p.m. March 19.

Nomination papers must be certified by April 2. The last day to object or withdraw is April 4.

The election is May 7.

Town Election Calendar: Webster

Town Clerk Robert Craver has posted the following offices to be elected:

Board of Selectman, 3 years

School Committee, 3 years, 2 seats

Regional Vocational School committee, 3 years

Board of Health, 3 years

Finance Committee, 3 years, 2 seats

Assessor, 3 years

Redevelopment authority, 5 years

Trustee of the Public Library, 3 years, 3 seats

Trustee of the Public Library, 2 years

Town Clerk, 3 years

Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk's Office. Deadline to submit papers to the Board of Registrars is 5 p.m. Monday March 19. Withdrawals must be done within 48 hours.

The election is May 7.

Webster, Dudley and Oxford

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

After a long day for all Town Clerks and their staffs, a light voter turnout in Webster, Dudley, and Oxford produced the following Super Tuesday Primary results:

Webster – of the 11,250 registered voters there was a 7% turnout of approximately 800 individuals according to Town Clerk Bob Craver. Republican Presidential votes cast were: Ron Paul 64, Mitt Romney 437, Rick Perry 4, Rick Santorum 138, Jon Huntsman 1, Michele Bachman 0, Newt Gingrich 48, and no preference 5.

Of the Democratic votes cast, President Obama captured 127 with a no preference total of 39. The Green-Rainbow Party had no votes for Kent Mesplay, Jill Stein 4, and no preference 1. Democratic State Committee Man votes cast for Thomas Cullen were 137 and for State Committee Woman Lisa Mosczynski 143. Republican State Committee Man votes for Michael Potaski totaled 445 and for State Committee Woman Kimberly Roy 458.

Dudley – Town Clerk Ora Finn reported that 11%, or 775, of Dudley’s 6,891 registered voters cast ballots for the following Republican Presidential candidates: Ron Paul 61, Mitt Romney 427, Rick Perry 1, Rick Santorum 95, Jon Huntsman 2, Michele Bachman 2, Newt Gingrich 39, and no preference 3.

Democratic Presidential votes for Barack Obama were 98 and a no preference total of 30. There were no Green-Rainbow votes cast. Voting for Democratic State Committee Man, Thomas Cullen, totaled 106, and State Committee Woman, Lisa Mosczynski totaled 107. Republican State Committee Man, Michael Potaski garnered 397 votes and State Committee Woman Kimberly Roy 406.

Oxford – Lori Kelley, Town Clerk, advised that there was a 12% turnout of Oxford’s 8,616 registered voters of which she reported the following Republican Presidential candidate votes: Ron Paul 78, Mitt Romney 586, Rick Perry 1, Rick Santorum 155, Jon Huntsman 4, Michele Bachman 1, Newt Gingrich 36, and no preference 3.

Democratic Presidential votes for Barack Obama were 134 with no preference votes of 30. Green-Rainbow votes consisted of Kent Mesplay 1 and Jill Stein 1. Votes for Democratic State Committee Man Thomas Cullen were 145 and for State Committee Woman Lisa Mosczynski 150; Republican State Committee Man Michael Potaski 547, and State Committee Woman Kimberly Roy 556. Town Clerk Kelley also advised that there were no candidates listed for Oxford Town Committee but she expected to have the write-in names available by Thursday, March 8.

North Oxford, MA March 5, 2012. The French River Education Center (FREC), a private, non-profit 501(c) 3 education, training, and support agency located in North Oxford, is making a three (3) year, $180,000 commitment to purchase teacher evaluation software from Clear Pond Technologies, Inc., Needham, MA, for member school districts that will facilitate the implementation of the new Massachusetts standards for teacher evaluation as adopted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This software, TeachPoint (goteachpoint.com), makes it possible to create custom teacher evaluation forms that administrators can use to construct rubrics based on standard practices in the classroom that are consistent with the DESE model. When used with an Apple IPad application, the process is fully mobile allowing administrators to record anywhere without WiFi or 3G.

The Center has twenty-one (21) member school districts in Worcester County.

The Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, a member of FREC since 1983, will be one of the end users of TeachPoint. “The ultimate goal is effective teaching in every classroom, every day, every year,” said superintendent Sean Gilrein. “The best way to reach that goal is to give a new set of tools to the person with the best access to classrooms and the greatest opportunity to orchestrate improvements in teaching: the principal. TeachPoint makes the evaluation system immediate, meaningful, time sensitive, and efficient. We are grateful to French River for this donation as well as the many other opportunities they provide.”

According to FREC director, Michael H. Fields, approval by the Center’s Board of Directors to purchase TeachPoint is in keeping with French River’s mission statement to assist member districts in the delivery of educational services. “We are pleased to be able to offer this service to our member school districts,”said Fields, “and it will be in addition to the $50,000 annual commitment we currently have in place to purchase an automated call notification service for interested district users.”

French River contracts with The Center for Educational Leadership and Technology (CELT), headquartered in Marlborough, MA, for their INTEGRITY CallOne automated calling service designed for school administrators to keep in touch with parents and the community. Used to announce school cancellations, the system also facilitates, among other things, parent contact during emergency situations.

Established in 1978 and incorporated in 1984, French River Education Center, governed by a nine (9) member Board of Directors, offers professional development programs for district teachers, counselors, and administrators; coordinates a volume buying program for member school districts to drive the unit price down on a myriad of school related items, including # 2 fuel oil; conducts computer training programs in Microsoft Office; and is contracted by school districts to provide speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to area special needs students.

The twenty-one (21) members of the Center are: Abbey Kelly Foster Regional Charter School; Auburn Public Schools; Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School; Blackstone-Millville Regional Schools; Douglas Public Schools; Dudley-Charlton Regional Schools; Gardner Public Schools; Grafton Public Schools; Leicester Public Schools; Millbury Public Schools; Narragansett Regional Schools; Northborough-Southborough/Algonquin Regional Schools; Oxford Public Schools; Quabbin Regional Schools; Quaboag Regional Schools; Southbridge Public Schools; Spencer-East Brookfield Public Schools; Sutton Public Schools; Webster Public Schools; Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative; and Tantasqua Regional/Union 61 Schools.

With the purchase of TeachPoint, French River Education Center has now donated in excess of $650,000 in cash, software, and equipment to member school districts since 2005.

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

On Friday, March 5, the Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District Committee voted to appoint John Lafleche as the school’s new Superintendent-Director. The Committee voted 17-0 to offer the position to Mr. Lafleche, who was the sole finalist for the top job. He will replace David Papagni, who will be retiring in September.

Mr. Lafleche has served as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Business/Business Manager of Bay Path since 2000 and brings a wealth of knowledge, planning, developing, and operations management to his new position. He has served as the District’s procurement officer and lead in the ongoing Massachusetts School Building Project for the high school, as well as administrator of the transportation and food service programs.

Previously he was the Finance Director and School Business Manager for the Town of Southbridge. His state certifications include school business administration as well as public purchasing official.

Mr. Lafleche holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from UMass-Amherst.

Brinker, Ethier Receive Bronze Stars for Valor

More photos follow.

WEBSTER - Praising the historic and current role of “citizen soldiers,” Brigadier General Brian K. Balfe reminded the audience of the urgent need to help returning veterans re-enter the workforce. In his remarks to the 48th Annual Communion Breakfast of the Webster-Dudley Polish American Veterans, General Balfe, a 1983 graduate of West Point, urged area businesses to consider hiring those returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. From a high of 15.2% unemployment among returning veterans a year ago, the numbers continue to remain disproportionately higher than unemployment for non-veterans.

General Balfe, Deputy Commanding General of the 42nd Infantry (Rainbow Division) of the New York National Guard, told those gathered at the Ray Street veterans post, that the National Guard is an especially cost effective building block in the Nation’s defense. “In this era of federal budget cuts, we need to remember that National Guard troops cost about one-third of the cost of the full-time military,” General Balfe explained, adding that, “the Guard costs only 2 cents of every defense dollar.”

The General noted that it was “citizen soldiers,” who won the American Revolution that gave America its independence from Great Britain. Case in point, he recounted the history of the Battle of Saratoga, fought near his home in upstate New York. He stated that the victory of the American colonies in that war proved to be a turning point of the rebellion, and that a key to that victory was a Polish military hero – Tadeusz Kosciuszko.

“Citizen Soldiers are continuing to protect America’s freedom as men and women of the National Guard constitute a substantial part of the war against terrorism,” General Balfe stated, noting that 80% of the Guard are enlistees who joined after September 11, 2001.

Prior to his remarks, General Balfe joined with Senator Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and the Webster-Dudley Veterans Council in honoring two Dudley Vietnam veterans with Bronze Stars for valor. Sgt. James Brinker, and Sp-4 Eugene Ethier. The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism, or meritorious service. Sgt. Brinker was part of the Recon Platoon of the Strike Force 2-502 Infantry BN, 101st Airborne Division, and Spec. Ethier was a member of Charlie Company 5th of the 46th Infantry BN, 198th Infantry Brigade. Sen. Moore presented the Bronze Star to Sgt. Brinker and General Balfe presented the Bronze Star to Sp-4 Ethier.

Participating in the honor court was: Dudley Veterans Service Officer Richard Holewa, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars George Bibeau, Commander of the Webster-Dudley Veterans Council Al Beland, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans John Wojcik, Commander of the American Legion Jim Friesel and Past Commander of the Polish-American Veterans Robert Jacob. Brinker and Ethier were escorted to the Head Table by Robert Mailloux and Victor Jankowski.

Seated at the Head Table for the breakfast, in addition to General Balfe and Sen. Moore were: PAV Junior Vice Commander Jack Gryzb, PAV Women’s Auxiliary President Loretta Chapdelaine, Mrs. Joanne Moore, and PAV Chaplain Joe Sendrowski. PAV Senior Vice Commander Robert Jacobs served as Breakfast Chairman.

The Breakfast, which followed Mass at St. Joseph’s Basilica, was opened with a Color Guard from Oxford High School’s nationally recognized Naval Junior ROTC Unit. Sophomore Christopher Knight commanded the Color Guard and carried the national colors, senior and Cadet Company Commander Danielle Giard carried the Massachusetts flag, and flanking rifle bearers were sophomores Dylan Bordeaux and Brian Merritt.

Sen.Moore introduced two special guests in attendance, Representative Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, and Dudley Police Chief Stephen Wojnar. To keep up with Sen. Moore’s work in the district, please visit, www.senatormoore.com.

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Nine fire departments from 
Connecticut and Massachusetts 
called to assist

Date:  Friday March 2, 2012
Location:  45 Jezierski Road, Thompson CT

Particulars:   A massive blaze swept through a single family home in Thompson CT late Friday night, leaving its owners temporarily homeless.

At approximately 11:58 PM on Friday March 2nd, all four of Thompson’s fire companies were alerted to a reported dwelling on fire in the area of 45 Jezierski Road, in Thompson’s North Grosvenordale district.  The fire was reported by a neighbor.

Community Fire Company Chief James Seney was the first to arrive on scene to find the home about half devoured by the fast moving flames.  The weather at the time would also ultimately affect the fire departments’ response because a freezing rain was falling and glazing the roads, delaying fire apparatus and first responders from getting to the scene quickly.  Chief Seney immediately knew he would need additional resources to quell this fire and requested mutual aid to respond to the scene.  In all, nine fire departments from Connecticut and Massachusetts would be called in to assist at the scene.

The first engine to arrive on the scene was unable to get up the lengthy driveway due to the heavy icing, and firefighters had to adapt and drag heavy hoselines up the icy drive to the front yard to supply smaller handlines that were simultaneously laid out to attack the unchecked fire.  The next hurdle that had to be overcome was the lack of a substantial water supply nearby, so one of Quinebaug’s engines stopped at a nearby pond and drafted water to supply an armada of tanker trucks which carried their water loads to the scene.

All of the firefighters and their departments worked very well together in a coordinated effort to extinguish a very difficult house fire.  There was no one home at the time of the fire, but the owner did show up on scene shortly after the fire had been brought under control.  The house appeared to be a total loss.  Chief Seney started releasing mutual aid companies at around 5 AM, some 5 hours after the initial alarm.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by Thompson Fire Marshal Rick Hayes as well as the State Fire Marshals Office.  At the present time, the cause has been listed as “undetermined”.  Marshal Hayes and investigators from the state fire marshal’s office are looking in the area of the fireplace for a potential cause, but have not reached a definite conclusion.  There were no injuries reported, and a damage estimate has not been released.

Departments called to aid the Community Fire Company of North Grosvenordale in fighting the fire were the Thompson Hill FD, West Thompson FD, East Thompson FD, Quinebaug VFD, East Putnam FD, Muddy Brook FD(North Woodstock), Attawaugan FD and Dudley FD.

More photos:

Photos: