Southbridge, Webster Wait Times Rank Harrington In The Top 2 Percent

SOUTHBRIDGEand WEBSTER  Harrington HealthCare System’s Emergency Departments in both Southbridge and Webster rank among the top 2 percent of all hospitals in the country for short wait times, according to statistics compiled by an influential healthcare publication.

The average wait in the EDs at Harrington Hospital and Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard in Webster was 6 minutes for the first quarter of 2012, the latest period examined by Becker’s Hospital Review. The 6-minute wait time put Harrington HealthCare System among the top 49 healthcare systems in the country, or the top 2 percent.

WEBSTER - Demolition of the buildings at 38-42 Prospect Street was completed last week, the materials and rubble have been removed, and the property is now a vacant lot. The town ordered the three buildings housing 13 apartment units to be razed because they were deemed a safety hazard by the building inspector and fire chief. Two of the buildings were constructed with a 4-inch granite veneer. Town Administrator John McAuliffe said that some town residents had thought these buildings might have some historical value, but there is nothing unique about the buildings' construction. Building Inspector Ted Tetreault said they were constructed of wood and masonry, not of granite blocks. Some family members of the owner of record, Paul O'Donnell, had expressed an interest in the blocks as well, thinking they were solid granite, but lost interest when it was discovered that the granite was a veneer only. The Town paid $35,000 for the demolition from a nuisance properties fund, and will attempt to collect that amount from the owner.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

FISKDALE – Junior right hander Evan Anderson pitched six solid innings of four-hit ballgame and the Bartlett Indians got some timely hitting from junior Anthony Higbie and sophomore James Patterson en route to an 8-2 win over the Tantasqua Warriors in their season opener on Friday afternoon.

Despite a shaky start with two first inning walks with the bases loaded, Anderson settled down and pitched an excellent game, striking out seven batters while scattering the four hits.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

FISKDALE – With only one day of practice outdoors because of the poor field conditions due to a long winter, the Bartlett girls played their first game of the season and despite losing 7-1 to Tantasqua were upbeat afterwards.

The new-look Indians led by first-year coach Ryan Renauld and assistant Jeff Flynn, who took over for Colleen Nasis, are in a rebuilding phase and have a very young squad, so the lack of practice was a definite factor and it didn’t help opening against a solid Tantasqua Warriors team, but the Indians did well despite the loss.

Headless animal found skinned in French River

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

WEBSTER – Robbie Somers, of Dudley, an employee of Allied Roofing Systems on Mill Street was doing his normal outdoor morning routine when he discovered a garbage bag floating in the water.  Once he opened the bag, he was shocked to discover the headless body of an animal that looked like a dog and had been skinned.

He called the Webster Police Department, who it turn called Webster Animal Control officer Michelle LaFleche, who was also shocked by the discovery.

“We got a call from the police on Monday, March 25, at approximately 5:30 a.m. that there was a dead animal found at Applied Roofing.  We met with the officer and he showed us where the animal was,” said LaFleche.

By Becky Harvey
Patriot correspondent

OXFORD - After opening with a moment of silence to remember three men who served the town of Oxford for many years - James Dwyer, Jon Larson and Alphonse Vigeant - selectmen chairman, John Saad opened the selectmen’s meeting on March 26, which began with a presentation by Town Accountant Donna Foglio.  She first showed the town's revenue history since 2004.  She demonstrated that the revenues are now coming mostly from the tax levy and less than half coming from state aid.  As it always has been, educational costs were the largest expenditures in the town, followed closely by health care costs.  One thing that the FY2014 budget will address is previous losses of hours for town employees, including town hall and library employees.  The new budget proposal will allow a restoration of some of the previously cut hours.  Two of the town’s health insurers, Tufts and Fallon, have not increased their fees and costs for fiscal 2014, benefiting the town’s bottom line.  There were a number of capital  requests from different departments. adding up to a little over $1.25million.  The largest capital request, representing almost a full half of the value of all capital requests, was for $500 thousand for the repair of the town hall’s clock tower.  Zeneski  noted that leaks from the clock tower have caused massive damage to the memorial marble stones in the entryway of town hall.  Public works, Public Safety and the Schools also made request for different capital projects.  All told, the town has received requests for capital expenditures in the amount of $5,645,700 for the fiscal year 2014 budget.

by Barbara Van Reed

WEBSTER – Ed Kinsley has successfully made Webster a destination for family entertainment with the newly renovated Mohegan Bowl and All Star Pub. "We can see where people are coming from when they search for directions, and they are coming from towns all around, many from Worcester."

"The place desperately needed a facelift," said Ed. He basically gutted the old Mohegan Bowladrome and Lic’s Restaurant on Thompson Road, and a million dollars later, literally, has transformed it into a spectacular family entertainment center.

Even the Crayola colors paint scheme, inside and out, gives the place a fun, upbeat appearance.

TA looking for 5% decrease

by Charles Kelleher Harris
Patriot correspondent

DUDLEY- The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Appropriation and Advisory Committee (FAA) met Thursday, March 21, to discuss the proposed budget for FY13-14.

Each town department was asked submit a budget to Town Administrator Peter Jankowski. Jankowski then reviewed them and made his recommended proposal. Jankowski said that he was trying to cut the budget by five percent overall.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Selectmen and FAA heard from several department heads about their proposals and where they intended to make necessary cuts.

School committee hears about all-call glitch 

by Becky Harvey
Patriot correpondent

OXFORD - High School Principal Kevin Wells entertained questions from the school committee regarding the new "No Fragrance Policy" recently implemented at  the  high school.  Elaine Ziemba, the school nurse, who was not at the school committee meeting on Monday night, had done a lot of research, much of which came from the American Lung Association, to come up with the new policy.  There will be an addendum to the student handbook next year.  The policy goes so far as to ban scented deodorants and sprays such as Axe.  Febreze will also no longer be allowed in the locker rooms.  Faculty will also be required to follow the new rules.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – One of the first things you notice after talking to Shepherd Hill senior Brad Picard for a few minutes is that he is quick to give credit to others for any success he has experienced during his high school years, and that is not a bad trait at all.

Picard grew up in Dudley, where he has lived his entire life with parents Holly and Taze and his brother TJ, who is in the midst of his freshman year of college at American International College in Springfield.