Discuss snowy sidewalks, regional dispatching

by Thomas D’Agostino
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER - The Webster Board of Selectmen officially opened the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 25, at Bartlett High School. All departments, boards and commission petitions must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, and the citizens petitions deadline is 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 29.

The board also addressed the issue of sidewalks that are still obstructed by snow. According to the town charter, sidewalks in front of private properties must be cleared within twenty-four hours of a storm. Many residents, along with several businesses, have failed to comply. Vice Chair Deborah Keefe stated there is a police-enforced fifty-dollar citation for failure to comply with the regulation. “It’s a shame because it’s not that I really want to penalize people that haven’t shoveled, but it’s not fair to the people, and we have a lot of them who have shoveled.”

by Steev Riccardo

WEBSTER – For the past seven years Bartlett high school head coach Tony Paranto and Bartlett High School have been hosting the Bob Paranto Holiday Tournament during Christmas school vacation, and it has become of a big hit in these parts.

St. Louis School, Thompson Middle School, Bartlett Junior High and Middle School, and St. Joseph’s School all played in the tournament this year which, among its many positives, helps support two Bartlett High School scholarships.

Also beat Grafton for second win of the week

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill Rams played tough interior defense and got some key baskets from Tyler Martin and Justin Terlizzi down the stretch to squeeze by the Quabbin Panthers 46-43 in Southern Worcester County League action Monday, Jan. 2, at Shepherd Hill.

The Rams opened an 11-10 first quarter lead, led by the strong inside play of sophomore power forward Chris Lindstrom, who tallied five early points.

The two teams then played a tight second quarter with the Panthers taking a 24-21 lead at the half in what had become a tough defensive struggle in which points were hard to come by.

Senior guard Tyler Martin scored six points and the Rams cut into the Panthers lead trailing by only two points, 35-33 in a third quarter that saw nine different lead changes in it.

The Rams took the lead for good with 2:10 left in the game on an enormous rebound basket by senior Justin Terlizzi.  Martin then iced the game moments later with a strong driving layup with 15 seconds left.

DUDLEY -  Shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday January 4, Dudley firefighters responded to a fire in a single family dwelling located at 158 Corbin Road.  The owner and lone occupant of the building, Lawrence Borowski, escaped the building unharmed.

At approximately 7:11 p.m. Dudley Fire Alarm received a 911 call reporting a house on fire at the Corbin Rd. address, and both fire and police units were dispatched to the location.  Initial reports from the Fire Alarm Office reported that the structure was fully involved.  With the home being located in a rural area with no fire hydrants close by, Dudley firefighters immediately called for help from the surrounding fire departments in Webster, Southbridge, and Charlton.  Neighboring Thompson CT fire companies were also dispatched to the fire initially, but were diverted to cover the empty Dudley Fire Station.

The Patriot/Yankee Shopper contest results:
Kids' 2012 Made in America Hunt forToys

by Nancie Zecco

Congratulations to Trisha Berk, 12-year old winner of our first Made in America Hunt for Toys contest. Trisha, who's from Woodstock, Conn., submitted 72 items made in the USA. She meticulously recorded and photographed each item. Her list included many board games, puzzles, Fisher Price toys, balls, card games. There were some old favorites like Mr. Potato Head, Snoopy's doghouse game, Tinker Toys, and dominoes. Trisha's grandmother told us she spent many hours preparing her submission, and it showed. Trisha will win the $150 first prize.

More winners follow.        

By Patriot staff; photos follow

STOW – Three local firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call Firefighter Recruit Training course in a ceremony held at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow, Mass. in front of a group of family, friends, and coworkers, on Thursday evening, Dec. 20.

For the last four months, these recruits have taken part in a rigorous training program focused on the essential skills needed to become a nationally certified firefighter.  Certified Instructors at the academy provided the recruit firefighters with the knowledge and the hands-on experience that will help integrate each of them into their departments, as well as keep them safe on the job.  During their training, the firefighters learned about fire behavior, ventilation, forcible entry, hose handling, hazardous materials operations, ladders, search and rescue, and a myriad of other subject matter that a firefighter must learn to perform their job in a safe, effective manner.

Dudley Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski  was in attendance to present certificates of completion to Dudley Firefighters Adam Bernard and Charles J. McGowan.  Each recruit had his badge pinned on him by a relative. Firefighter Bernard receiving his badge from his uncle, Worcester Fire Lieutenant Bert Davis, and Firefighter McGowan was pinned by his mother, Jane McGowan.

DUDLEY – It's a good time of year to start up a health-oriented business as at the beginning of every new year, thoughts turn to getting in better physical shape. Regina Doucimo, a certified nutritionist, can help you do just that.

She started her business, Natural Wholebody Nutrition, in October, and is gearing up for a busy 2013. Her program emphasizes the nutritional aspects of a healthy lifestyle. “You can work out as much as you want,” she says, “but what you eat is just as important in implementing lasting change that will improve energy, balance, and health.”

An ISSA Certified Nutritionist and Ace Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach, Regina works with individuals, families, or groups, orienting and customizing the program to specific needs, both in content and location.

Amber Facchini, a local student from Auburn, MA, was a 3rd place winner in James Patterson's College Book Bucks Scholarship. For the second year in a row, the best selling author has held an essay contest for college bound high school seniors across the country. The essay question was "How has your favorite book inspired you toward what you'd like to do in life?" Amber won a $250 gift certificate to spend at the independent bookstore of her choice, Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster, MA. Amber is attending WPI in Worcester, MA with a major in computer science.

For more information about the contest go to http://jamespatterson.com/college-book-bucks-winners.php#.UOS6yKw5hU5

WEBSTER -  On Monday, December 31, just before midnight the Webster Police Department received a 911 call stating that there had been an accidental discharge of a firearm and there was a victim at 94 North Main Street. Webster Police and EMS responded and learned that Daniel Grenon, 24 who had a valid License to Carry, was playing a “game” with his friend, Ryan Aldridge. The game involved Grenon having a firearm and Aldridge had a knife. They were seeing who could draw it faster when Grenon accidentally shot Aldridge in the lower abdomen.

Grenon was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, 6 counts of improper storage of a firearm, and improper storage of ammunition.

He was arraigned in Dudley District Court on Wednesday. Police have revoked his license to carry and seized all of his firearms and ammunition.

Alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

Aldrich was transported to Umass Memorial Hospital where he remains today.

WEBSTER – It’s been a long time since there was a boxing club in Webster, but the combination of pro boxing referee John “Zab” Zablocki and Powerhouse Gym owner Scott Holland are making it happen.

The pair of locals hope to have the doors of their new boxing gym, which will include a boxing ring, heavy bags, speed bags, and sparring gear, open by February 1 at the Powerhouse Gym in Webster.

Zablocki, who grew up in Webster and graduated from Shepherd Hill in 1978, and Holland, who also grew up in Webster and graduated from Bartlett in 1992, have been talking and planning this endeavor for some time.