just a few issues at Webster BOS Meeting

By Thomas D’Agostino
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER -   Demolition, dogs, department remote participation, swearing in of two new officers and a budget issue kept the Webster Board of Selectmen at their best during the Monday, March 4 meeting.

The meeting started with a twenty-five year proclamation from the board to the Party Planner at 183 Main Street. The business started in 1988 and has been a staple of Webster since then.

by Patriot Staff

DUDLEY - Ninety-seven voters last week unanimously approved a $725,000 appropriation to purchase a new aerial ladder fire truck. No one was happier than Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski. "It was good to get it passed, I'm very thankful to the citizens of Dudley for their support. We really need that truck. The one we have is 31 years old, and safety was an issue for the fire personnel."

The chief recounted the campaign he's waged for the last year to gain support for the new truck. He made numerous presentation, wrote newspaper articles, and explained the need for the new equipment. "It's good to see that the town's people understood why we need a new ladder truck, and supported it." He said it will be nine to eleven months before the new vehicle will be ready, They custom-build it from the ground up once the contract is signed.

  
"We're really happy everything turned out so well, and we can't wait to get the truck. Hopefully, the truck we have will last for another year."

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Jonathan Ruda also expressed his appreciation to Dudley citizens for their support.
 

WEBSTER - Sweet Kiwi is coming to town. Michael C. O'Brien, principal of Galaxy Development, announced this week that East Village Square has entered into a lease with Sweet Kiwi for a new 1,500 square foot frozen yogurt store that will occupy half of the new retail building being constructed on the east side of the site.  

Sweet Kiwi is a family owned and operated business, headquartered in Lowell. The first store was opened in June of 2012, and there are now six locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It's known for its frozen yogurt with dozens of different toppings.

Mr. O'Brien said he expects a mid-late May opening.

photos by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – Isador’s Fruit and Deli hosted the second annual “Chili Cook-off” this past Sunday afternoon at its store in Oxford and raised almost $700 dollars. The money was donated to the "Hand Fruit Program," which brings fresh organic fruit to local schools.

Mike Morin of Oxford won first place, while Carolyn Latham, also of Oxford, came in second place, and Heather Day of Worcester, who also works at Isador’s, came in third place.

The Webster Dudley Business Alliance sponsored the event, which again was a huge success.

More photos follow.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – Oxford High School senior Tyler Barrie achieved something that is rarely done in high school sports when he was chosen captain for three different sports this year - football, basketball, and baseball—an accomplishment that really only tells half his story.

During his sophomore year in the middle of football season, Barrie was faced with a much bigger challenge in life than going to class and playing football. Awoken by an early December morning phone call right before Christmas, he was told that his father Scott had passed away.

“It was shocking, it was something I didn’t expect,” said Barrie. “I talked to him on the phone the night before and we made plans to talk again the next day and I remember waking up to a phone call and I walked into the next room and my mom (Kim) was crying. She had a blank stare on her face, and then she told me.”

by Steev Riccardo

Webster – Last weekTuesday night the Webster School Committee approved a 5.6% increase in its proposed school budget for the fiscal year 2014, which starts July 1.

The proposed budget  of $17,277,204 will now be turned over to Webster Town Administrator John McAuliffe, who will then present it to the Board of Selectman.

The budget is an increase of $923,555 from fiscal year 2013, and includes increases in Special Education, tuition, school choice, salary, and miscellaneous expenditures.

by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill Rams saw their season come to a close following a 61-51 loss to Fitchburg in the Division 1 boy’s district basketball playoffs last Tuesday night, February 26, at the Hill.

Freshman Michael Rapoza led the Rams with 10 points while seniors Tyler Martin and David Bianculli, and sophomore Chris Lindstrom all finished with nine points in the loss.

Senior Justin Terlizzi also had eight points in his final game in a Rams uniform.

The Rams had a very good season, finishing with an impressive13-8 record overall.

For more on high school basketball, check out View From The Sidelines every week in the Patriot and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ViewFromTheSidelines or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your feedback and comments.

Gauvin, JoJo lead the way

by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Shepherd Hill Rams used a swarming defense and strong offensive efforts from seniors Tina Gauvin and JoJo L’Heureux to devour Doherty 58-45 and advance to the Division 1 district playoffs, setting up a fourth encounter with archrival Holy Name.

Gauvin had an outstanding shooting night, especially in the second half, when she scored 19 of her team-leading and career-high 21 points to lead the Rams. L’Heureux, who always seems to play big in key games, scored 18 points and added a career-high five steals.

Belnavis ends career with 27 point effort

by Steev Riccardo

FITCHBURG – The Bartlett Indians season may have ended this past Thursday night, but not before the green and white played one of their best games of the year in an intense, heated contest in which they fell to Central Mass powerhouse St. Bernard’s 75-66 in front of a packed house.

The Indians and their fans knew they would have a huge task in hand against one of the best teams in Central Mass, but coach Tony Paranto and his staff came up with a superb game plan that had upset written all over it for almost three quarters.

By Patriot Staff

WEBSTER – A water main on Rawson Road burst on Friday morning at about 11:30 a.m, spilling more than a half million gallons of water down the street, onto properties  on Rawson Road and Gore Road, and eventually emptying into  Webster Lake.  The break affected water pressure throughout the town. Water quality was not compromised during the incident.

The Department of Public Works quickly began efforts to divert the water from private properties and to repair the broken pipe. Town residents were asked to minimize water usage while the repairs were going on.  Repairs were completed at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning and the system was back up and running.