by Barbara Van Reed

Connecticut author Chuck Miceli published his first novel last year and is on the road to do his most favorite thing: greeting and talking with his readers. The book is Amanda's Room and he will be at Dudley's Pearle L. Crawford Library for a reading and signing event next Monday.

Amanda's Room, a paranormal thriller, has had good reviews from readers. One called it “a real page turner.”  It takes place in the Catskills in upstate New York. Miceli describes it this way: “When death came for Amanda Reynolds, it could not pry her from the room. Katie Jarvis knows that Amanda is trying to communicate in the only way she knows how: by altering the weather. But Katie cannot decipher what Amanda is saying or why, and time is running out. Something is stalking Katie and her team. As the violence of the weather takes on monstrous proportions, they must unravel the meaning in the storms, or no one will be safe from the power of Amanda’s room.”

Miceli told us the story of how the book came to be, and how he became a novelist, a story equally intriguing.

by Barbara Van Reed

Michelle St. Jacques called our office last Thursday, all excited: “you have to send a photographer to the Price Chopper! Mrs. Claus is there today.” And so we did.

Mrs. Santa Claus sits near the store's exit during the last few weekends before Christmas. “I love seeing the people, the old people, the kids. It puts a smile on everybody's face when they see me.” 

Mrs. Claus in her every day life is Mary LaFountain, long time Webster resident and a familiar face to many. She worked in the Price Chopper deli for ten years before retiring three years ago at age 71. Before that she spent ten years in the Park n' Shop deli department in Dudley. And, for the ten years before that, she and her late husband ran Skip's Place restaurant on  South Main Street in Webster.

Mary talks about her current temporary gig as Mrs. Claus as if it's her favorite job yet. She began her   Christmas career at Price Chopper ten years ago. “Two associates came to me and wanted to greet people and give out candy canes,” said store manager Tom Sullivan. “One passed away, but Mary has continued to do it every year. She's a nice lady.”

“I have fun doing it. I know a lot of people by sight,” said Mary. Customers who came by insisted on giving her donations, and so three years ago Tom Sullivan and she decided that if she were to accept contributions, it should be for a specific cause. They chose the Webster-Dudley Food Share program. Last year Mary collected close to $1,000.

This year, she thinks she will do equally well. “People are very generous.”   

The donations go to buy the food items that the Webster-Dudley Food Share needs most. That happens the day before Christmas. The day after Christmas Mary will be celebrating her birthday.

The rest of the year Mary keeps busy with knitting and cross stitching, and walks the tracks by the Lake. She also spends time with her family, which includes four daughters, eight grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Michelle St. Jacques called Mary LaFountain's portrayal of Mrs. Claus a “beautiful reflection of the Christmas spirit. As poor as people are, they still give to the Food Share.”

She had her own story of people's generosity: “I was at the Honey Dew in Dudley this morning, waiting in line behind someone. The person turned around and paid for my coffee and donut too.”

Christmas is over for this year, but Mary's birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Claus! 

Mary/Mrs. Claus will be back next Christmas. “As long as I can move and get around I'll be doing it,” she promised.

Photo caption: Representatives from area food pantries and Hometown Bank branch managers stand with Matthew S. Sosik, the bank's president and CEO at the Neighbors Helping Neighbors check presentation reception last week. From left, Sharon Dimopoulos, Webster branch manager; Sally d'Arcangelo, executive director of Auburn Youth & Family Services; Tina Puzo, Auburn branch; Ed Wentland of Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Webster; John Kneeland of the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf; Matt Sosik; Donna Jarvis of WHEAT Community Services Food Pantry of Leicester; Denise Fernald, S. Lancaster branch; Elliot Higgins of the Athol Salvation Army Emergency Food Pantry; Cheryl Bosse, Athol branch; and Karla Christiansen, Oxford branch.

OXFORD - “This bank is the best,” said Ed Wentland, a volunteer at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Webster. He was complimenting Oxford-based Hometown Bank, which had just presented his organization and five other area food pantries with checks totaling $13,200.

This was the 9^th Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors event for the bank, which has raised nearly $50,000 for food pantries since the program began. This year's $13,200 exceeded last year's $10,000, which was a good thing, since every one of the food pantries said their need was greater this year  than last year as well.

The recipients of the program were chosen by the branch managers of the six Hometown Bank locations, who along with bank CEO Matthew S. Sosik hosted a holiday reception for representatives of the charities last week.

Ed Wentland was there for St. Vincent de Paul, a temporary relief organization which assists families in Webster and Dudley with rent, utilities, fuel, and prescriptions, as well as food. Ed has been a volunteer with the organization for eight years. “We work with people on an individual level, we sit down with them to figure out what they need,” he said. “We might get on the phone with the electric company, for example. We might go over their finances to set up a budget. The objective is to help them help themselves.” 

St. Vincent de Paul differs from conventional food pantries in that they deliver the food.  They have eight volunteer teams of two or three members each who will go out day or night to assist families. They get about 40 calls a week at this time of year. “It can be difficult at times, going up a couple of flights of stairs,” said Ed, though not complaining.

Last week they also gave Christmas gifts to 300 local children.

St. Vincent de Paul relies completely on donations. Unlike most food pantries, they do not get any assistance from the state or from regional food banks. Local churches, banks, and businesses run food drives and make monetary donations; the United Way provides the fuel assistance.

The Society works out of  the Sacred Heart Church in Webster. To make a donation or to request assistance, call the church office to be connected to St. Vincent de Paul.  

Joanne Nelson and  John Kneeland accepted Hometown Bank's check for the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf. The Food Shelf is operated by eight of Oxford's churches and is located in the lower level of the Community Center at 4 Maple Ave. Joanne has been an ecumenical member of the council for 17 years, and John, who is the chairman, has worked with the Food Shelf since 2000.  

Joanne and John told us that they've seen an increase in the number of families needing food assistance this year, while at the same time there has been a drop off in donations.

“They say the economy is getting better,” said John. “But I don't know where. I don't see it here.”

Last year the Food Shelf spent $37,000 for food but took in only $30,000. They made up the difference with some existing financial resources. This year they are being forced to cut back assistance to about $30,000, as there will again be a shortfall.

In order to stretch the food assistance to as many people as possible, the Shelf has stopped purchasing paper products and toiletries. They will provide the items when they are donated, but will not buy them anymore because of their high cost.

The Oxford Food Shelf is available for all those who need it: Oxford residents and registered members of an Oxford church. John said that they feed about 50 families a week. He has seen more families come in, especially singles with kids, and those who have lost their jobs.

The Food Shelf is one of the few food pantries where people can choose what they want, much as in a store. John emphasized the organization is more than just about food. The staff speaks with the clients and learns about their problems.

The Food Shelf is a non-profit and does not receive any federal or state funding. It is entirely supported by local churches, organizations, businesses and individuals.

John will continue to visit companies and businesses to ask for support for the Food Shelf, hoping to close the donations gap. Programs such as Hometown's Neighbors Helping Neighbors program helps do that.

Joe Klimavich, Hometown's Vice President of Communication, explained the program. In November the bank starts asking its customers to make a contribution: $1 to be a Hometown Hero, or $5 to be a Superhero. They also mail requests for donations to their business customers. Hometown Bank then matches all the donations. This year they raised $6,600 from customers, bringing the matched total to $13,200 for distribution in the towns where they have branches: Oxford, Webster, Auburn, Athol, South Lancaster, and Sturbridge.

The food pantries reminded us that it's never too late to donate, and the need exists all year long.       

Photo caption: Representatives from area food pantries and Hometown Bank branch managers stand with Matthew S. Sosik, the bank's president and CEO at the Neighbors Helping Neighbors check presentation reception last week. From left, Sharon Dimopoulos, Webster branch manager; Sally d'Arcangelo, executive director of Auburn Youth & Family Services; Tina Puzo, Auburn branch; Ed Wentland of Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Webster; John Kneeland of the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf; Matt Sosik; Donna Jarvis of WHEAT Community Services Food Pantry of Leicester; Denise Fernald, S. Lancaster branch; Elliot Higgins of the Athol Salvation Army Emergency Food Pantry; Cheryl Bosse, Athol branch; and Karla Christiansen, Oxford branch.

Running for a cause is a worthy endeavor, often motivated by personal experience or loss.

Dr. John W. Castellani of Oxford was one of nearly 500 Dana- Farber team runners in the 12^th Annual B.A.A. Half Marathon in October to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy fund.

For John, his specific motivation was to honor the 10^th anniversary of the passing of his 18-year old niece Meghan, who died of leukemia in 2002. When we spoke with John shortly after he ran the race, he said, “There’s not a day I don’t think about her. Cancer has been part of my life. It’s in my family.”

His father was diagnosed with testicular cancer and died when John was 13. Last fall, his uncle also died of cancer. Both his grandmothers had breast cancer.  A year ago his sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and earlier this year his mother was diagnosed with melanoma. Both are out of treatment now and doing well, he said.

“As a researcher myself, I know how hard it is to understand the science behind why good cells turn into bad cells.”

Dana-Farber team members commit to raising at least $500 to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The team has raised more than $3 million in the last ten years.

The B.A.A. Half Marathon attracts a field of 7,000 runners, including world-class athletes. The 13.1 mile rolling course is an out-and-back loop that runs along Boston’s Emerald Necklace park system.

John’s preparation for the run is a story in itself.  In the summer of 2011 he had spinal fusion surgery which kept him immobile for months. He’d always been very active and “was going nuts” last fall until he could walk again. In November he started running.  He was determined to get back into the best possible condition, and also resumed his Beachbody P90X workouts.  By May he “was feeling in pretty good shape.”     

He signed up to run for the Dana-Farber team “just because I wanted to run for charity.”  His time for the 13.1 miles was two hours, five minutes, and 27 seconds.  Will he do it again next year?  “Yes, it was a lot of fun running the race. The wheelchairs go first.  Then the runners go, and all you can see is people.  The training was doable.  I did the long runs, eight miles or more, on weekends.”  His goal next year will be to get in under the two-hour mark.

Dr. Castellani’s emphasis on fitness seems a natural extension of the work he does as an exercise physiologist and researcher at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) in Natick.  USARIEM laboratories deal with Warfighter performance science and its useful applications.  Researchers study environmental medicine, physiology, performance and nutrition.  Dr. Castellani is currently researching the affect of temperature on human performance.  He didn’t tell us this himself, but he is considered one of the top environmental physiologists in the world.

Dr. Castellani’s lab has chambers which mimic battleground conditions in temperatures ranging from 60 degrees below zero to 140 above. For example, he said, “In Iraq temperatures in the summer go up to 110 degrees. We want to find out  what’s going on with a soldier biologically when he’s wearing full body armor in that heat, so that we can help our soldiers perform better when they are placed in those environments.”

Complementing John’s focus on physiology both at work and on the road is yet another, perhaps more serene, aspect of his life: Yoga. He also teaches yoga at a studio in Auburn.

For Dr. John W. Castellani, running for a cause has aligned perfectly with working for a cause.

You’ve probably seen his name in these pages, as The Patriot reporter for Webster Board of Selectmen meetings and as the author of the Tales from Beyond column. He’s also a professional musician and music teacher. And though Thomas D’Agostino has many talents, his passion is for the paranormal.

Sharing the scenes in our community  

By Barbara Van Reed

Art appreciation is often left for trips and visits to museums; we sometimes forget that artists live and work right here among us.

One of our local artists is Linda Littleton, who's best known for her watercolors of Webster Lake: wonderful, fun prints of the fireworks, the Point Breeze gas dock, the Regatta, boat houses, and homes.

We asked Linda how long she's been painting. “Forever,” she said. “I started at age seven, won an art contest, and just kept on going.” Her artwork is on display locally at Booklovers' Gourmet, Point Breeze, and Webster Lake Gifts. She also has four prints hanging in Senator John Kerry's office in Washington DC. She has sold works to clients across the US and in Europe.

Linda is largely self-taught, but frequently attends art workshops and has studied with many prominent artists over the years. She's branched out recently with more abstract watercolors and acrylics. Her new style is on display now at the Silver Circle Gallery in Putnam and at Celebrations in Pomfret.

“Art is an ever-changing process of development, and although I love doing house portraits and traditional watercolors, I am always exploring new styles with new artists to further develop my own artistic talents,” she said.

She is a full artist member of the Rhode Island Water Color Society, where she exhibits regularly, the New England Water Color Society, and Worcester Arts.

Linda's life has always involved teaching as well: she was a teacher in Framingham before retiring and moving to Webster, and is today a substitute teacher in the Southbridge Public Schools. So it's no surprise that she gives lessons in watercolors, acrylics, and oils in her home studio, and teaches art to school-age children over the summer.

She laments the reduction of arts education in the public schools. “The schools have had to make serious cuts in art and music, and school-age kids really benefit from cultural education, of which they receive a minimal amount during the MCAS-packed day. I think people forget that societies are remembered for their art, music, and literature and I think we do not appreciate these talents enough in today's education. They are so important for the future of a healthy society.”

Linda was recently appointed to Webster's Cultural Arts Committee. “We have many talented artists in the area who need exposure, a place to exhibit their work, teach, and share this interest. I would love to see a community artist center/cultural center that can enhance the fine arts, theater, and musical performances in our area for all ages to enjoy. Art and artists can play an important role in rejuvenating our town for the future.”

Along with many other community activities, Linda was one of the original members and officers of the Webster Lake Association, which was founded ten years ago to protect the water quality of the Lake for swimming, boating, and fishing. She writes a periodic column for this newspaper updating residents on what's happening, the association's many fundraising events and activities. Linda has a writing background too. She told us she was the teen editor for the Salem Daily News, covering all of the high school events and stars of that age group.

You can check out Linda's art work at one of the venues listed above, or visit her website at LindaLittletonArt.com. The site also has information on her custom artwork. For example, she will paint a picture of your home or business, boat, plane, or car, and make note cards of it as well.  Sounds to us like a great holiday gift possibility. You can also reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 508-943-3972. 

Thank you, Linda, for sharing your love of art with us all.

By Barbara Van Reed

Two weeks ago on a dark, rainy, evening the day after Superstorm Sandy blew through town, a Worcester mother of three was hit and killed by a driver on Lake Parkway in Webster.

The cause  of the accident is under investigation by the Central Massachusetts Enforcement Council Accident Reconstruction Unit and the Worcester district attorney's office. Webster Deputy Police Chief Rodney Budrow told us that it could take several weeks to get the results of the investigation. That will tell us exactly what happened, he said, and determine whether the driver was speeding or not.

Jillian (Gatsogiannis) Peters, who lives just up Lake Parkway on Klebart Avenue, has been vocal on the subject of safety on that street for more than a year, and she feels especially sad, and angry, about what happened. She had talked with the police chief, town administrator, school administrators, and others to voice her fears about the traffic issues, particularly speeding, on Lake Parkway.

She also spoke with us earlier this year (January 25 issue) about slowing speeders on Lake Parkway, the possibility of blinking school zone signs, and other ways to make the street safer for kids and other pedestrians. Her specific words at the time were that they could “get nailed by someone driving a car.”

And now someone has been. And Ms. Peters is making the rounds again, speaking with Deputy Police Chief Rodney Budrow, Town Administrator McAuliffe, and this newspaper. 

“I understand where she's coming from,” said Chief Budrow, calling the accident a tragedy. “I feel for her, though I don't always agree with her.” He explained that the street does not have a lot of foot traffic, so doesn't warrant a crosswalk. The department has done radar there for hours, and people don't cross the street, he said. Also, there are wide gravel paths that people walk along, well off the street. A school zone sign would not help when school is out.

There is a 30 mph speed sign posted, even though Lake Parkway is not a thickly settled area, so it could theoretically be raised to 40 mph. Ms. Peters argues that the road is so wide that drivers feel free to go much faster than the speed limit. Deputy Chief Budrow emphasized that it has not been determined that speed was a factor in the accident. In any case, Police Chief Timothy Bent pointed out that Lake Parkway is one of the most heavily radar- patrolled streets in Webster. “We have the speed trailer up there often,” he said. The highway department has now put some “children slow” signs up too.

But Ms. Peters won't be quieted -  this time she also expressed her concerns to a broader audience, readers of the Webster Residents Forum Facebook page. And there she found both sympathetic and unsympathetic listeners, and quite a bit of advice and suggestions about how take the matter up with various town boards and committees.

Finally she said, “I feel like I'm getting the runaround even though now I'm trying to do things properly.”

She went to change.org and started an online petition called “Town of Webster, MA, Board of Selectmen: Improve safety in town school zones.” She circulated it in her neighborhood as well, and by Friday had more than forty signatures on the two petitions. 

On Friday she met with Town Administrator John McAuliffe again and he helped her work out a two- part strategy. He suggested a letter to all the applicable boards and committees asking to be put on the agenda and show them the petitions. If that fails to satisfy, he outlined her options for getting a citizen's petition on the warrant for a town meeting.

Ms. Peters got right to work and wrote the following letter to the Webster Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and the Highway Department.

“I, Jillian Peters, as a citizen of the Town of Webster, MA, formally request the assessment and improvement of Webster school zones be put on your agenda at your next meeting. I feel with the recent death on Lake Parkway now is the time to address these issues. Our children walk to school on this road with no sidewalks. They also have no crosswalks to access the side of the road the school is on. The address to one of these schools is Bartlett Junior Senior High School, 52 Lake Parkway. With the school being on Lake Parkway, which should be a school zone, we are in need of a reduced speed zone at the entrance of the school accompanied by flashing beacon lights that flash during school hours to alert commuters. Cars typically speed through this area at 35 mph or more. The schools need clearly marked school zones with speed enforcement in these zones. I feel it is time for these school zones to be brought up-to-date to accommodate and meet the needs of the students' and residents' safety.”

 She concluded, “It's time to find out whose job this is.”

Barbara Van Reed

Just take a look at the pictures and you can see that the kids had a great time at the 2^nd Annual Webster October Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct 27. Those of us there commented on what a great day it was for the event, compared to last year, when the October snowstorm blew in. This time the kids could be outside to visit with the animals in the petting zoo and take a peek into the fire truck.

We asked some of the kids what their favorite part of the festival was. Vincent, who's 10 going on 11, said Elmo and Tigger were his favorite. His 10-year friend Danielle agreed. Isabella, 8, and Lillian, 5, voted for the petting zoo, as did Logan, age 7.

The event was clearly oriented to kids, with a costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, face painting, apple bobbing, crafts, and games. The Double Eagle Oktoberfest Band was there, dressed the part, to play traditional German Oompah music. 

For the parents, there were a variety of vendors, local entrepreneurs, and organizations, all in a festive mood as well.

Mr. Booklovers, as Mike Horan calls himself, had a display of spooky books and items perfect for the Halloween spirit. Meantime, Deb Horan was minding the Booklovers' Gourmet store on East Main Street.

Next to him, the Bartlett Art Department and senior Jason Tawczyski exhibited a variety of ceramics made by art students. There were some well done pieces. All proceeds from the sale were going to the art department, said Jason.. His friends Crystal Rosa and Michael Walsh kept him company while doing booth duty.

 The Second Chance Animal Shelter of East Brookfield was there to promote its Stop Pet Overpopulation Today (STOP) program. Volunteer Jeannie Mikels explained that it's not possible to fix the overpopulation with adoption alone, so they offer a low cost spaying and neutering program to help keep the number of unwanted pets from growing larger. The group offers periodic pick-ups of pets in the Webster/Dudley/Oxford area, so owners do not have to travel to East Brookfield. The non-profit is supported by grants and donations. For more information call 508-867-5525 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Local crafter Carolyn Smith displayed all kinds of fabric bags she's made for her It's in the Bag shop.

The most interesting was a bag for microwaving potatoes. It's made from cotton with thermal batting. Carolyn said the reasoning behind the bag is that it provides a more moist and fully cooked potato, the outer skins stays more tender, and the insides are fluffier. It can also be used for corn on the cob or warming tortillas or bagels. The bags are on display at Cindy's Studio on Thompson Road.

Dudley's Cindy Manos got an idea as a bartender at the PNA: do something creative with all the empty liquor bottles that are discarded. And so she started Licka Lamps about five months ago (it's a Boston accent). She especially likes the beautiful Grey Goose bottles and started making lamps from them. She's branched out to make kids lamps, holiday lamps, and sports themes, in addition to the classic liquor bottles. She buys all her electrical components from Webster Electric, and finds the shades at a lot of different places. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .    

Webster's Barbara Davis also likes bottles.  In her case she melts them in a kiln to made pretty dishes for candy or cheese and crackers. Perfect for the holidays, she says. You can find her at craft fairs in the area or reach her at 508-943-7850.

Ms. Davis's niece Brenda O'Brien of Clifton Park, NY, also does the crafts fair circuit. Her Unique Creations include beautiful holiday wreaths and dried flower arrangements. You can contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ranee Cournoyer and other members of the Webster Firefighters Auxiliary were there to promote their organization and raise some money for their cause. The non-profit Auxiliary brings food and drinks to the firefighters when they are out on a call. There are 14 people in the group, said Ranee and they are always looking for new members.

Patricia Nelson of Page Chiropractic was giving spinal screenings to interested festival attendees. She told us you don't have to have back problems to benefit from a chiropractic screenings; it's good for preventative care too. 

Holly Connors started a new career as an independent consultant for Scentsy just three months ago, and has already won a trip to Hawaii. The Scentsy wickless candles work with a low-wattage lightbulb and product no flame, smoke, or soot, so are completely safe. They are housed in some really pretty warmers. Holly said the scented animals are very popular too. If you are interested in using them for a fundraiser, Holly can be reached at 774-230-0102.

Another new entrepreneur is Webster's Lorie Robidoux, who started as a Mary Kay consultant in February. She specializes in facials and will make house calls. You can call her at 774-289-5375.

Frances Kittridge is a safety consultant to the construction industry by trade, but construction has been slow. So a month ago she decided to take on another venture and chose The Pampered Chef. It's been tough getting started, she said. She'll be attending craft fairs, such as the one coming up at Sacred Heart, and hopes to make a go of it. She's teamed up with fellow Pampered Chef consultant Susan Schiavo of Douglas. Frances is at 774-230-8953.

In the town hall entrance, the Webster Senior Center had a large display of crocheted and goods: hats, mittens, and sweaters, as well as baked goods, breads, and jams. Director Jean Travis, Dianna Ross, and Lillian and Sam Walley of the Council of Aging were there to support the purchase of a defibrillator for the senior center. There isn't one there now, and so they hope to raise money through the sales of craft goods and a raffle. So far they've raised $600 towards the $2,500 cost of a defibrillator. Sam was also promoting another bus trip to Foxwoods on December 6. The last one on October 18 was sold out with 49 people.

The Patriot had a table too: we're offering new readers a free 2-month subscription. Contact us to sign up.http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Webster's Board Chairman Donald Bourque, candidate for state representative in the 18^th Worcester District

This is the last in a series of interviews with the candidates for state representative in the 6^th Worcester District, which includes Dudley, and the 18^th, which includes Webster and precincts 1 and 4 in Oxford. All the interviews can be found online at www.patriotnewspaper.com. Click on Opinion and Letter from the Editor.

Donald Bourque is running for state representative and his priorities for the job are clear: Number one, jobs; number two, increased staffing for emergency services; and three, support for the elderly, disabled, and less fortunate among us.

Bourque, a Democrat and chairman of the Webster Board of Selectmen, is running to represent the newly configured 18^th Worcester District, which includes Webster, Douglas, Sutton and precinct 1 and 4 in Oxford. He is challenging the Republican incumbent Ryan Fattman.

Jobs are on the top of every candidate’s list, but in Bourque’s case as the co-owner of a staffing agency in Webster and Worcester, he lives jobs every day. 

In his own words: “I know what it’s like to start a business. Five years ago, in February of 2008, we started the agency, and by December I felt the fear that I’m going to lose everything, that I’m going out of business.” He didn’t blame the president, he said, or anyone else. “I got out there, pulled up my bootstraps and went to work. That’s what every businessman or business woman does. When it’s time to go to work I don’t rely on someone else to make things happen for me. It’s me putting my house, my livelihood on the line to get the job done.

“My job is to keep people in Central Mass employed. I’m doing whatever I can do to make that happen.”

If he’s elected to the state rep position, Bourque proposes to implement a district- wide program to bring businesses into the towns. He would structure an economic development team made up of one representative from each town, which he would chair. “This five-member board would come up with ideas to entertain businesses to come into our district from out of state or from other areas in Massachusetts. If we could bring in five new businesses that each employ 15 people, that would bring us 75 new jobs.”  He would work at the state level and with local leadership, he said, to start such a program and expand it.

Bourque talked about cuts in local aid and their impact. “At the state house, when budgets are tight, what do they cut? Local aid. And when we get less local aid, when the towns have to deal with less and local authorities have to cut local services, what happens?  The emergency services, the libraries, the senior services, the social services are cut.

“I was talking with someone today who works over at a local social service agency.  She told me a story about a family living in a car because their house was foreclosed, and they literally had to go out and help this family get what they needed to get into a new place. These are not things we should cut. I will fight to the nth degree for local aid, to make sure we get what we deserve.”

Bourque’s concern for the lesser among us may have to do with his upbringing and early goals. He attended North Shore Community College and La Salette Seminary in Ipswich, where he studied to become a priest. “I always wanted to be a priest when I was a kid,” he said. “And I got very involved in the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church.”

He left after two years because of philosophical differences.

He worked in retail for a time, yet still felt the pull of the church. He went back to the seminary for another six months, but then left again. He went home and told his parents. “My father was a marine. First he hit me and then he told me he loved me.”  His leaving the seminary was hard for both his parents, he said. He had chosen the priesthood not because he was the firstborn son, as was the custom in that generation, but because he wanted to, had felt that it was right.

“They were hurt, but now they see that I have a life that they could have only hoped for me. I’m very happy with my life. I live in a great town, where things are changing, happening. We are making a difference. Which is really no different than being a priest, because you can make a difference as a priest in someone’s life.  Our board of selectmen, we’re making a difference for the people in this town.”

After leaving the seminary Bourque went to work as a sales rep for Image Software, a company now out of business. He co-founded his staffing agency in 2008. It serves local businesses with full-time and part-time temporary staffing as well as permanent placement.

In 2000 he joined the Webster Fire Department as an auxiliary firefighter. “Volunteering has always been important to me. “Believe me, it wasn't for the $3,000 that I put my life on the line.”

His other volunteer activities with local organizations include the Lions, Elks Club, Knights of Columbus in Webster, and St. Andrew Bobola festival.

In addition, he's the president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and served as   Ambassador of the Year for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and 2010.

Bourque ran for the Webster Board of Selectmen in 2010. He used to watch the members argue and fight. “There was always a battle; we used to call it 'the show',” and he decided to run.  He won by a wide margin.

“Look around,” he said. “There's construction going on everywhere. We're not taking credit for all of it, but the truth is we've been part of all of it. We've worked together with local businesses and the Office of Community Development. We have a board that works well together and a town administrator who works with all of us. We're all on the same page to help people, to move Webster forward. That's exactly what I would do as a rep in the Worcester 18^th district.”

Bourque has made it a point to produce his campaign materials and signs locally, supporting local businesses such as the Party Planner, the Center of Hope, and Connelly Printing, in contrast with his opponent, who printed fliers in Virginia. Speaking of signs, he mentions that half of his campaign signs have been stolen from people's yards. Now some of them are reappearing randomly on lawns of people who did not request them.

We asked about his opinion on ballot questions 2 and 3. On number 2, the right to prescribe medication to end life, he supports that question, giving people the right to choose to end their life in the case of extreme suffering and a certain death. He said he hears stories of people's endless suffering, and says “It's your body, it's your decision. What decision is it of mine to say you cannot do that, cannot make your own decision. I'm more about the individual, allowing people to keep their dignity, than getting bureaucracy in the way of someone's life.”

On the question of medical marijuana, he echoes the thought. “What right do we have to say to someone you need to suffer? That's not the society that we live in. We live in a society where we care about people. If the law as written is not tight enough, it can be altered. Laws can and will change. The legislature will do the right thing, or should do the right thing,” he added.

On raising the minimum wage from $8 to $10, a bill currently in the legislature, Bourque believes that any increase should be very gradual, perhaps a $0.25/year. “$10 is too much of a stretch at once. I put people to work every day, and a good chunk of them make more than the minimum wage. As the economy improves and unemployment comes down, the wages will go up. With a smaller labor supply, employers will have to pay more to get qualified individuals.”

Bourque told us he believes in term limits. “I don't believe a state rep should be a rep for 12, 16, 18 years. I could be completely wrong, but I believe they become complacent and things just don't get done. He also believes the district has been under-served in the last year. “As soon as redistricting was announced a year ago, our rep closed his Webster office and was seldom seen here again.” He said “I want the job to do the job more than I want the title, unlike those who want the title more than they want to do the job.”

If elected, his guiding principle will be one that his father told him day in and day out when he was a kid, that “if at the end of the day you lay down and put your head on your pillow and feel comfortable about what you accomplished that day, then you've done your job.” 

candidate for re-election, 18^th Worcester District

Republican State Representative Ryan Fattman has been putting on the miles on foot in Webster; with voter lists in hand, he's called on every house on every street, except Golden Heights and Treasure Island. He wasn't allowed into those complexes, he said. He has visited every house in two Oxford precincts which are part of the district, as well. The newly configured 18^th Worcester District also includes Douglas and Sutton, and he’s heading to Douglas next.

His Democratic challenger is Donald Bourque, chairman of the Webster Board of Selectmen.

The walks are part of Mr. Fattman's campaign strategy to meet as many people in the district as possible, get their issues and ideas, and then “put into practice what they say, to represent them all.” He said he learned a lot about the socio-economic character of Webster by walking around the Lake and downtown areas. He finds someone at home about 40% of the time, he explained, even in the daytime: homemakers, unemployed people, the disabled, retired, elderly.

“If you really want to represent people you have to meet them. Some people thought I was crazy going into some of the neighborhoods. I thought it would be crazy not to,” he said. He started the walks in April and finished in August.

Mr. Fattman is finishing his first term in the House, and counts among his accomplishments the restrictions passed on EBT cards, so they can no longer be used for items such as alcohol or movie tickets. This was a bipartisan effort, he said, and he hopes to do more work on that next term,   restricting the cash benefits and adding an ID to the card so people can’t trade it or sell it. He'd also like to see the closing of a loophole that allows illegal immigrants to register vehicles.

Asked if he supports a bill in the legislature raising the minimum wage from $8/hour to $10/hour, he answered: “Increasing the cost of doing business is not a good thing.” He is also concerned about a mandatory sick leave bill, which would require employers to offer employees a minimum of three sick days per year. “We should concentrate on getting people back to work, not on increasing costs to employees. Employers tell me that if this happens, they will be laying people off.” Most employers will cover their employees when they are sick, he maintains.

Mr. Fattman is co-sponsoring legislation that would study all unfunded state mandates for cities and towns. Unfortunately that idea hasn’t gone anywhere the last two years, but he wants to get it going again. “A lot of studies are proposed, but not a lot them make it,” he said.

Another area he’d like to see progress on is the rollback of the state income tax and sales tax to 5%, “People voted on this, Webster overwhelmingly, and it should be implemented. This is one of the most frustrating things, people get aggravated.”  He’s also against the proposal to tax Internet sales, believing it will hurt small online businesses.

Mr. Fattman often tells his audiences that he's the product of a mixed marriage, his father is a Republican and his mother a Democrat (she's now un-enrolled). ”I learned diplomacy early,” he said. “My mom has good ideas; my dad knows how to pay for them.” It helps him work across the aisle.

He is working on a bill with Democrat Jim Arciero of Westford to cut costs on highway signs and vehicles. It's in the spirit of Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis's commitment when he was elected not to put his name on department signs. “If all twelve sheriffs did that, think about how much money the state would save.”

On state ballot question 2, prescribing medication to end life, he said, “It's a moral issue for me. I'm against it.” On question 3, medical use of marijuana, he said he has no problem with medical marijuana if it helps people suffer less. But he sees two problems: federal law supersedes state law and they should “get on the same page,” and, who would be qualified to prescribe it.

Mr. Fattman has a BS in Political Science from Suffolk University and is working on an MA in Public Policy and International Relations from Tufts University. He has just the thesis left to write, and he's “forty pages into it.”

Mr. Fattman's political career began when he was 21, the youngest selectman in his home town of Sutton. He was also a member and chairman of the Housing Partnership Committee there. He had been a selectman for five years in 2010 when he decided to run for state representative because he was frustrated. “I basically saw the state balancing their budget on the backs of cities and towns, cutting services, raising taxes, not doing enough to reform state government to make it work for people. And I was lucky enough to be elected.”

Whether he wins next month or not, Webster will be seeing more of Ryan Fattman. He said his walking the town was also a good opportunity to scout for houses, as he's planning to move to Webster next summer when he marries his fiancée Stepahie Kotseas.