Boys & Girls Club Receives Grant from
The Health Foundation of Central Mass.

DUDLEY, MA – The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts today announced the awarding of a $175,455 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley. This grant will continue the Foundation’s funding through 2010 for Choices, a comprehensive program to direct at-risk young people toward positive alternatives.

“Choices serves teens by offering a wide variety programs to teach them how to avoid negative influences and develop healthy habits in their lives. They attend life skills and Internet safety classes, participate in athletics, and receive homework help.” said Tony Poti, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley. “We are focused on helping these children develop decision-making and leadership skills, using the most effective and proven programs that have been developed by the Boys & Girls Club of America.”

Dr. David S. Robinson, President of DSRobinson & Associates has been working with the Choices program to evaluate its success and reported very positive results at the grant announcement. “I have studied the key indicators collected on youth who participate in the Choices program, I have come to agree with the Public/Private Ventures research conclusion about the high quality and benefits of Boys and Girls Clubs programs. The youth who participate in Choices programs at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Webster-Dudley show significant gains in social skills, improved attitudes toward school, and positive relationships with peers and adults. All of the Choices participants take advantage of homework help and three out of four of teens report that they are doing better in school since involvement in the program” according to Dr. Robinson.

Tony Poti, provided the history of the Choices program, “In 2007 a community assessment indicated that young people in Webster and Dudley worried about the possibilities of getting hurt, getting into trouble, substance use and abuse and health related issues. These findings resulted in community leaders coming together to address the situation, and the concept of Choices was proposed to The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts for funding.” Mr. Poti continued, “The Foundation generously granted us funds to plan, pilot and implement the program, and today announced their intent to fund the second year of implementation. I am grateful to them and to all of the partners, especially our schools, as we begin our second year. I am proud to be part of this coalition and of the results that have been achieved thus far. I look forward to working together to grow and enhance the program to meet the needs of more kids with the mentoring and support services they require.”

During the grant announcement Sean Gilrein, Superintendent of the Dudley Charlton Regional School District and Jason Phelps, Principal of the Webster Middle School were specifically recognized for their dedication to the youth of the community and for their commitment to the success of Choices.

“We recognize that parents and schools fulfill the greatest teaching roles in a child’s life, but we know that some young people also need additional support after school and in the summer. The Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley, and programs like Choices, fill a void and provide youth with a structured place to go, to do homework, to socialize, and to have adult role models and counselors to help them make the right decisions. And, connecting Choices’ efforts with the schools’ efforts is critically important” stated Dr. Jan Yost, President of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. “So, The Health Foundation is pleased to announce a grant of $175,455 to continue Choices in 2010. This brings the Foundation’s total support for this project since 2007 to $684,898,” Yost added.

About Choices: Choices is a collaborative effort between the Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley, United Way of Webster and Dudley, Hometown Bank, The Webster police Department, The Dudley Police Department, The Webster Public Schools, The Dudley Charlton Regional School District and social service agencies to mentor and support teens at risk. In addition, the Boys & Girls Club works with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) to provide counseling services for some of these young people.

About The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts: The mission of The Health Foundation is to use its resources to improve the health of those who live or work in Central Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations and unmet needs. Formally established in 1999 from the sale of Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc. a physician-initiated, not for profit HMO, The Health Foundation currently has assets of approximately $57 million. The Foundation began its grant making in late 2000, and since that time, has awarded grants totaling more than $18.5 million. Please go to the Foundation’s website http://www.hfcm.org for more information.

Indian Ranch Donates to Webster Tea Party

by Daniel Dorr

I attended the "TEA PARTY" meeting at Indian Ranch last Thursday evening February 25,2010. Who are these people who would come out on a stormy rainy night? The elite T V commentator Bill Maher calls them a cult. He implies that they are uneducated backward people. This is not the case. The audience was basically solid middle class. A combination of small business owners and employees who work hard for a living. The same people who believe that government is supposed work for us instead of they working for the government as a taxpayer.

The United States became the most successful nation ever, because we had limited government. The people retained the most power and government's power was only to be lent not given away to elitist politicians. The only purpose for government was to protect us from foreign forces or crime inside our borders. Our nation was built by the millions of workers who could grow their endeavors. Most, once successful didn't hoard the wealth all to themselves. The usual case was that they then hired other people that grew American prosperity further. Both our founding documents The Declaration of Independence and the U S Constitution do not guarantee either happiness or wealth. What they did was level the playing field for anyone who was willing to work and gave them an equal CHANCE!

This Tea Party group is neither pro Republican nor pro Democrat. The driving force that brings them all together is that government is out of touch with them. The America envisioned by Thomas Jefferson eludes them. He said, "The best government is the one that governs the least." Now to be honest this group is more conservative than liberal or progressive. But what else would you expect from the people who actually work for a living? They experience the relentless increasing government intrusion on their way of life. Simply put they are being squeezed. They pay far more than they should in taxes and are forced to tolerate redundant over regulation that increases costs for no tangible benefit. Despite all this with determination they try to make go of it.

 
The America that we love and know is being destroyed from within. We were warned of this danger by James Madison in 1788 who said, "Since the general civilization of mankind. I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom by gradual encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden upsurptions." Now the roots of our current demise can not be solely blamed on the last Administration. It goes far beyond that to about the last 20 administrations starting in the late 1880's. This is when the "progressive movement" began in America. It is nothing more than socialism that has never worked any where in the world. It certainly doesn't work here. We the middle class must stop it. No other class will or can.

Many of our elected officials, especially the progressive socialist liberals, love to play the "class envy card." Uninformed people are led to believe that it is the rich that rob the poor and never pay their fair share of taxes. The sad truth is that most government revenue comes from the successful middle class. Our government can't tax the poor, they ain't got it! The truly rich have the means to limit their tax liability. The only ones left are the hard working American middle class. It is time to reverse course. This is what the "TEA PARTY MOVEMENT" is all about.

In the last two years the United States government has bailed out Big Business, and Big Banks. Then what are we told? "It's going to be a "JOBLESS" recovery. Well there cannot be a real recovery until ALL AMERICANS are back working. The successful formula for this is simple: CUT TAXES! CUT SPENDING! AND RECIND REDUNDANT REGULATIONS! Once government gets out of the way, the middle class will take it from there. They are the people and perhaps the "CULT" that made America the envy of the world.

Bank Robbery at Hometown Bank

On February 25, 2010 at 1546 hours, the Webster Police Department received a call from the Hometown Bank at 218 Main Street in Webster reporting they had been robbed. At around this time a white male, 6’ to 6’5 wearing a black leather jacket, black baseball hat, and sunglasses, presented a note to the teller and was given an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was shown. He was last seen running down Main Street towards the direction of the town hall.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detectives Gordon Wentworth or James Hoover at 508-943-1212.

Chief's Corner

by Chief Steven J. Wojnar

Dudley Chief of Police

http://www.dudleypolice.com

Junior Operator License laws in Massachusetts were revised by the state government back in 2006. These licenses apply to individuals under the age of 18 who meet certain conditions. One of the many important changes made under the law was increased penalties for speeding violations. I was recently asked to explain the impact of speeding fines on these drivers.

The speeding regulation, contained under the revised Junior Operator Law, is perhaps one of the most significant changes on moving violations for youthful drivers. The current law places an emphasis on these younger operators driving slower and more attentively. Many accidents can be avoided simply by limiting distractions and decreasing driving speed.

A responsible finding under the previous versions of the law carried only a fine for a first offense speeding penalty. The new law carries a 90 day license suspension in addition to fines (There is very little which would impact a teenager’s life more than having the freedom to drive taken away after enjoying it for a period of time). In addition to the fines and loss of license, the law places an emphasis on training and education. The law calls for these violators to complete driving and attitude courses. Also, the penalties and fines increase if there are repeated offenses.

New drivers can suffer significant penalties if they are found responsible for a speeding violation. Inexperienced drivers can cause serious damage to themselves and others on the road. Please take the opportunity to learn as much as possible before getting behind the wheel. The Massachusetts Registry Web Site has more information on this and other laws at www.mass.gov/rmv.

Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department, 71 West Main Street, Dudley, MA 01571 or e-mail at swojnar@dudleypolice.com.

(Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.)