State Representative Kevin Kuros, left, and Webster Selectman Donald Bourque, far right, presented citations to Eastern Pearl Owner Sam Zhu, third from left. Mr. Zhu’s wife Jenny Wang, second from left, and the Eastern Pearl staff looked on.

On hand for the official ribbon cutting at Absolute Staffing were, from left, Webster Selectman Jeffrey Duggan, State Representative Kevin Kuros, co-owners Donald Bourque and Shelley Cormier, WDO Chamber of Commerce president Cheri MacKinney, Selectman Deborah Keefe, and Town Administrator John McAuliffe.

WEBSTER - Absolute Staffing and Eastern Pearl restaurant, located across the street from each other on Main Street, officially celebrated their recent openings with a combined ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Absolute Staffing co-owners Donald Bourque and Shelley Cormier started their employment staffing agency in Auburn in February 2008. The Webster location, at 269 Main Street, is their second, and since opening it, “we've put 26 people to work who weren't working in December,” said Mr. Bourque.

State Representative Kuros presented the two owners with a citation signed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and himself. Mr. Kuros, citing his own previous experience working for an employment agency, noted the importance of having a location that's easily accessible to job candidates.

Town Administrator John McAuliffe presented Mr. Bourque and Ms.Cormier with a plaque from the Board of Selectmen. He commented on the importance of small businesses in the revitalization of downtown Webster, calling them the economic engine.

Following the ribbon cutting at Absolute Staffing, the group of participants moved to the other side of the street to begin the Eastern Pearl ceremony. Owner Sam Zhu and his wife Jenny Wang converted the vacant Webster Five Bank Building at 290 Main Street into a lovely, elegant restaurant that's had the town talking.

Mr. Kuros started his presentation of the House of Representative citation by telling the audience that he'd spent quite a bit of time and money at Eastern Pearl already himself.

Mr. Bourque, vice-chairman of the Board of Selectmen, presented Mr. Zhu with the Board's plaque. He   told Mr. Zhu that he and his wife Jenny had brought new life to an architecturally important building in  Webster and “we thank you so much for what you've done.”

James McGovern represents the 3^nd Congressional District in Massachusetts, an area that currently encompasses 28 towns stretching from Leicester through Worcester to Westboro and snakes south towards Fall River. In the next election in November, Rep. McGovern will be running to represent a newly configured 2^nd Congressional District, which will include 63 communities, keeping only of 11 of his current towns, and altering 60% of his constituency.

The change is the result of last year’s once-a-decade federal redistricting, in which Massachusetts lost one of its ten Congressional seats, necessitating a redrawing of the districts, and impacting all the current representatives. The three Western Massachusetts districts effectively became two, with Richard E. Neal running in the 1^st District, which will include Dudley, and Mr. McGovern in the 2nd, which will include Webster and Oxford. Congressman Neal has represented Webster, Oxford and Dudley for the last 23 years.

Rep. McGovern visited Webster on Tuesday, April 3, in a plan to familiarize himself with the communities in the newly-configured district before the election. He said that if is re-elected and knows about the issues and projects in advance, he “can hit the ground running.”

He said he was born and grew up in Worcester, and knows the area, having often visited Webster Lake when he was younger.

Tuesday’s visit began with a presentation in the Irene Martel Conference Room at the Town Hall. Town Administrator John McAuliffe reviewed all the plans in progress for downtown revitalization, including the new police station, the A.J. Sitkowski Senior Housing project, the public library, and the Park Avenue Elementary School.

Selectmen Donald Bourque and Deborah Keefe accompanied the congressman on a tour of Main Street, stopping in at businesses along the route.

The first was a visit with Joseph V. Waskiewics Jr., owner of JV Mechanical Contractors. The company is a distributor for PAW, a German manufacturer of high tech products for solar and hydronics systems. Mr. Waskiewics has rehabbed a building at 25 Davis Street, behind the Post Office, and it’s a showcase for the solar and radiant heating products.

The next stop, on Main Street, was with Nancy Healy, of the Citadel Company, and owner of considerable real estate in town. Down the block, Dan Marcoux of the Party Planner wowed the congressman with his huge selection of party goods.

Across the street, the touring group stopped in at Jeanne’s Hair Loft, talked with Tina Puzo, branch manager at the Hometown Bank, and then visited with Steve and Chris Charniak of Charniak Insurance.

The last stop was the Eastern Pearl restaurant, where he met owner Sam Zhu, as well as a few of the citizens having lunch there.

Back at the town hall parking lot, Mr. McGovern said “I feel optimistic about Webster. You have some great things going on. And I like to work with community leaders to get things done.”

State Representative Ryan Fattman took Senator Scott Brown on a whirlwind tour of three towns which will be in the 18th Worcester District come next year. The senator spent an hour in Webster, then headed off to meet supporters in Douglas and Sutton.

Dozens of people came out to Point Breeze Restaurant to meet and greet the senator, who is no stranger to Webster. He began his remarks noting that he'd participated in the Webster Lake triathlon and has been at Indian Ranch many times. (His daughter Ayla, a country singer, has performed there.)

Brown told the audience that he was in the White House twice this week to witness President Obama  signing two of his bills. The first was the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which bans insider trading for members and employees of Congress and executive branch employees, and prevents government officials from receiving preferential treatment in any initial public offerings that are not available to the general public.

Brown told the story of how the bill had languished on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's desk until he mentioned it to the president after the State of the Union address in January. The moment was captured on live TV and President Obama promised to get it done.

The second bill was the CROWDFUND Act, which he sponsored with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and was a bipartisan compromise passed as an amendment to the JOBS Act. Crowdfunding will allow entrepreneurs to raise up to $1 million per year through an SEC-registered crowdfunding portal.

The senator went on to say that although “I've been disgusted with what's going on in Washington, there are good people on both sides of the aisle, like those who helped pass Hire a Hero bill. There are great people working hard to do the right thing.

“But we are in deep trouble,” he continued, “the deficit is rising. We're going to be like Greece in a very short time.”  We need to be Americans first, not Democrats or Republicans first, he said.

“I'm looking to solve problems, and there are a lot of them.”

He said that while his opponent Elizabeth Warren was “being a social crusader,” I'm saving the Post Office, and dealing with issues like Iraq, Pakistan, the energy crisis, and base closures.”

The senator took questions from the audience on the ongoing housing crisis, interest on the federal debt, immigration, voter identification, and whether he thought English should be the official language. “I always thought it was,” he said in answer.

Brown concluded his remarks by saying, “If you want to hang out at Indian Ranch and have some beer, vote for me. If you want to hang out in Cambridge, vote for her.”

Senator Brown with constituents at Point Breeze.

Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

After waiting until 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 10, for School Committee members to appear, Chairman Michael Makara, gaveled the meeting to adjournment due to lack of a quorum.

Items on the agenda included the FY 2013 budget and review of finalists for the positions of Webster School Superintendent and Bartlett High School Principal. Superintendent Ciardi provided information regarding the finalists for Superintendent of Schools: Salah Khelfaoui, Asst. Superintendent for Information Services, Arlington,VA, Public Schools; Barbara Malkas, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Pittsfield, MA, Public Schools; Kimberly Shaver-Hood, Superintendent, Blackstone-Millville, MA, Regional School District; and Norman Yvon, Principal, A.M. Chaffee Elementary School, Oxford, MA, Public Schools.

According to the Webster Public Schools website there are two finalists for Principal of Bartlett High School: Steven Knowlton, Principal of Cranston, RI, West High School and Michael Rubin, Assistant Principal of Dighton-Rehoboth, MA, High School. On Wednesday, April 11, from 5:00-6:45pm at the BHS Library both candidates will be available to meet with parents and community members to hear advice, opinions, and to answer questions.

School Committee members present were Joan Czechowski and Michael Makara.  Absent members were Ted Geotis, Shawn Collins, and Craig McNulty. Also in attendance were Greg Ciardi, Superintendent of Schools; Ted Avlas, assistant to Superintendent; Marilyn Bisbicos, Director of Student Support Services; Jennifer Lundwell, Middle School Principal; Carolyn Wallace, Park Ave. Elementary School Principal; Andrew Kelley, Director of Curriculum, and Tori McIntyre, student representative

The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24.

U.S. Marshals Service/U.S. Customs Enforcement Report

WEBSTER, Mass. — The U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive investigators — assisted by the Webster Police Department — arrested Wellington Sousa Damasio today in Webster. He is currently in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

Damasio, 44, an illegal alien, is also wanted by authorities in Brazil on rape charges. In 2008, Damasio was convicted of rape in Brazil and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prior to serving his sentence, Damasio absconded from Brazil and fled to the United States.

U.S. Marshals Service investigators assigned to Interpol developed information that Damasio had no legal status in the United States and relayed this information to the U.S. Marshals Service Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force. Task force members were able to locate Damasio in Webster.

Once back in Brazil, Damasio will begin serving his 10 year sentence.

ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

The Bartlett High School Student Council is sponsoring "Meet the Candidates Night" on Thursday, April 12, 2012. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held at the Jacqueline D. Puliafico Auditorium at Bartlett High School. The main focus for the evening will be the offices of Selectman and School Committee.

The evening will begin with the candidates running for a three-year term for the Office of Selectman. The candidates running for School Committee will follow. Each candidate will be allowed a two-minute opening statement. Then each candidate will have an opportunity to share what his or her vision is for the Town of Webster. Candidates will be allowed an additional two minutes to share this vision.

The Bartlett High School Student Council members will ask each candidate questions. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to the students' questions. Finally, each candidate will have an opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

Any candidate running for any other town office will be given two minutes at the conclusion of the evening to introduce themselves and state which office they are running for. This informational evening is open to the general public, and the public will be given an opportunity to ask questions as well.

If you have any questions about the event, contact Miss Kelly O'Brien at Bartlett High School.

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508-943-8552

Lowers age for tattoos to 14

WEBSTER -  The Board of Health amended tobacco regulations this week, banning all paraphernalia and merchandise oriented towards users of marijuana and other illegal drugs, including, but not limited to the following: blunt wrappers, rosebud glass tubes or other non-traditional tobacco smoking apparatus.

The board held a public hearing on the subject Monday, April 2. Health Agent Cathleen Liberty said that while there had been no complaints from citizens, the board wanted to take those items out of the town of Webster. “It's clear that they can be used for illegal substances,” she said.

There are at least two smoke shops in town which sell the banned items, but notification of the new regulations will be sent to all stores that sell tobacco products, including convenience stores.

The board also removed a contradiction in the town's tobacco regulations by deleting a section which prohibited the sale or distribution of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, or nicotine delivery products from a vending machine. These products can be sold in vending machines, with a permit.

Body art practitioners were also on the health board's radar. New regulations require that, in addition to  having the proper documentation to be a body art practitioner, tattooists will be required to have “1800 hours of apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a licensed body art tattooist.”

Health Agent Liberty said under the old regulations a tattooist didn't need any experience to practice the art. They could take a course, obtain the proper documentation, and start work. The board took the   step as a public safety measure, as improper procedures can cause infection and disease.

“A lot goes into this,” said Ms. Liberty. “Tattooing is a complicated process. The two body art shops we have here in town are very knowledgeable; they are not opposed to this.”

In conjunction with the new rule, the board instituted a $100 fee for the body art apprenticeship, every two years.

The board made a third change in the body art regulations, this to allow “fourteen to eighteen (14 to18) year olds to receive tattoos with a signed consent and also accompanied by an adult or legal guardian.

The old regulations required a person to be 18.

This loosening of the age requirement is also intended as a public safety measure. “We are trying to eliminate infection and disease caused by illegal tattooing, said Ms. Liberty. “There's a lot of tattooing going on in kitchens, and the board felt that the 14- to-18 year-old group was most likely to be involved in illegal tattoos.”

Recognizing the realities of what kids do, the board felt that lowering the age limit and requiring parental consent would make this group safer from a public health perspective.

A Webster man and his step-son are being charged with assault and battery upon a disabled person after an argument this past Saturday afternoon.

According to the Webster Police, dispatchers received multiple calls reporting a fight involving 5 people fighting in a stairwell at 18 Upland Ave. The police received reports that one individual was thrown down some stairs during the fight.

Upon arriving Officers located two of the participants at the scene. One individual was visibly injured. A third person had fled the area on foot before police arrived. Responding Officers learned that the building landlord, a 56 year old man was assaulted by his downstairs tenant, Arthur Leblanc, 59, of 18 Upland Ave. and LeBlanc’s step-son Travis Carey, 21, of 148 Millbury Street, Worcester.

According to statements by the victim and other witnesses at the scene Leblanc and Carey initiated a confrontation with the victim at his second floor apartment. This was just initially verbal until, a heavily intoxicated Leblanc fell down the stairs. After accusing the victim of pushing his step-father, Carey became physically assaultive. The altercation ended up on the first floor landing and also involved Leblanc’s wife with Carey’s girlfriend also being present.

At one point Carey punched the victim multiple times in the face while Leblanc held the victim from behind and Leblanc’s wife clinging to the victim’s leg. During the altercation, the victim’s son called the Webster police and Carey fled on foot when told.

Officers Michael Reardon and James Young Jr., located Carey in the immediate neighborhood when Officer Aaron Suss started searching with Webster Police K9 "Radar". Officers initially brought Carey back to the Webster Police Department under protective custody for having a blood alcohol level just under three times the limit to drive a vehicle.

Both the victim and Leblanc were transported to Hubbard Hospital in Webster for treatment. After further investigation, officers learned that the victim was physically disabled and also suffered a fractured nose from the incident. According to police both Leblanc and Carey are being charged with Assault and Battery upon a Disabled Person with Bodily Injury. Disorderly Person, and Disturbing the Peace. Officers Suss and Young Jr., are the investigation officers.

On March 30, 2012 at approximately 10:20 pm Webster Police were dispatched to Harrington Hospital at the Hubbard Campus in Webster to speak with a male victim who had reportedly been stabbed. Upon Officer’s arrival, the victim reported that he and his girlfriend were approached by three (3) male subjects while at the parking lot of the Webster First Federal Credit Union Bank of N. Main St.

The victim in the case reported that he and his girlfriend were assaulted and that he was stabbed. The victim suffered a severe laceration to the head, a stab wound to the shoulder, and numerous superficial wounds. The victim’s girlfriend sustained minor injuries. The victims in the case reported that there were three suspects, all were male and at least one was described as being a white male with a black jacket. A second male was described as being Hispanic with a white jacket. There was no further description available.

Officers Aaron Suss and Joshua Collins took the initial report and the Webster Police Detective Bureau is continuing the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact Webster Police at 508-943-1212 or the Webster Police Detective Bureau tips line at 508-949-3874. Anonymous tips are welcome. Webster Detectives may also be contacted anonymously by texting "WPD01570" to 847411. Anonymous tips may also be forwarded through our website www.websterpolice.com.

Late April opening

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

WEBSTER – The town of Webster is about a month away from the opening of its new animal shelter, something that the town has needed for some time.

Animal Control Officer Michelle LaFleche is “ecstatic” and said, “it’s a dream come true beyond words,” when asked about the opening of the new shelter, which was made possible from a donation by Marilyn Fels and the Fels Foundation.

“She asked what I needed and I gave her a list and she had it built. It’s a great gift for the town of Webster.”  The new building will replace a shelter that is one room and is “falling apart” and will double the number of animals they can care for, which is important since it is a ‘no-kill’ shelter.

Assistant Animal Control Officer Jose Herrera said that the new shelter is “something that the town has needed for a long time. These animals deserve a place where they can go, and some of them stay with us a long time.” 

Both Lafleche and Herrera describe the new conditions as “a lot more sanitary, more space, and much better set up to care for animals.”

Dick Kelly of Kelly & Kelly, who constructed the building, said, “Michelle talked to my sister (Marilyn Fels) and told her what she needed and my son and I put it together for her.”  It is a state-of-the-art building with plenty of space and adequate cages for the animals.

The shelter is still in need of a small refrigerator and a scale, and the staff is hoping that some citizens will come along and donate these items. There will also be a benefit at some point to help raise funds for supplies and maintenance of the shelter.

The new shelter is located just inside the entrance of the Webster Pumping station.

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