and a thank you to our staff and contributors

by Barbara Van Reed, Editor

This is the very last issue of the Patriot, which has been covering the local news in Webster, Dudley, and Oxford for nearly 40 years. Although I have been associated with the paper for just the last two years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you, readers and newsmakers, the people who live and work in these communities, and know how much the paper has meant to many of you. I and all the Patriot staff will miss you.  

In this final “Letter from the Editor” I will talk about some of the people who have made the Patriot a newspaper that people wanted to read: our production staff, writers, columnists, drivers, and contributors, some of them operating behind the scenes.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – Oxford High School senior John Simkus has always had a passion for building bridges and now he will pursue this passion and attend UMass Amherst in the fall and major in Engineering.

Simkus, the son of Joanna and Rooney Simkus, grew up in Oxford, where he has lived his whole life with his parents and his twin sister Christina.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

WEBSTER – Never could I have imagined that moving back to my hometown and writing for The Patriot could have been as rewarding as it has been the last couple years, and it has been this column that has been the best part of this journey.

Covering high school sports and getting to know the kids and their parents and the coaches has been an amazing experience for me, one I will never forget.  That is why I will continue to write this column as a blog on line and continue to show my support to high school sports. 

Before I thank some people that have helped me immensely with my job, there is one more bit of business to take care and that is paying tribute to the View from the Sidelines 2012-13 Athlete of the Year, Oxford High School senior Emily “The Sweet Assassin” Dawidczyk.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – Shepherd Hill senior Tina Gauvin, like her best friend and fellow senior Taylor Daniels, has been one of the staples of the high schools sports program for the past four years and even though she is graduating and moving on, she will not be forgotten.

Extremely popular amongst her friends and fellow classmates, Gauvin has made quite a name for herself at the school for her dedication to both the soccer team and basketball team.

Focuses on Chapter 70 funding

by Becky Harvey

OXFORD - Oxford resident and mother Brenda Ennis has been a member of the Oxford School Committee for the past nine years.  She originally ran in 2004 because she wanted to be sure the school system to which she was sending her then-young daughter was the best it could be, but she soon realized that she was passionate about making it better for all.  Though Ennis believes that many improvements have been made during her tenure as a committee member, she knows that there is still much to be done.  Knowing this, she has decided to run for a fourth term.

At 92, still driving to NY and working elections

by Ginger Costen

WEBSTER - Last week domestic diva Martha Stewart decided to document her attempt at online dating. Stating that it’s been six years since she’s had a man in her life, Stewart decided it was time to find someone and filled out the application for the dating website, Match.com, on NBC’s Today show.  The current plan is for a production crew to follow Martha through her journey with regular updates and interviews.

While the concept of using the Internet to find a possible mate is certainly a 21^st century phenomenon, the idea of the woman searching for and interviewing potential grooms is not.

Long-time Bartlett High School Athletic Director and former coach and teacher Rene Langevin will be retiring at the end of the school year.  He has been an instrumental part of the Bartlett Athletic Department for many years and will be greatly missed at the school.  We at The Patriot wish Coach Langevin a long and happy retirement!

Slota retains treasurer position

by Patriot staff

WEBSTER – The 1913 Webster town elections brought a few surprises to Town Clerk Bob Craver, “we had a lot of write-ins for this election, but the day went smoothly and there weren’t any problems,” he said.

William Starzec was elected for his first run as a Selectman, defeating incumbent Donald Bourque with 865 votes to Bourque’s 624 votes. Incumbent Selectman Mark Dowgiewicz, was returned to office with 795 votes.

WEBSTER - Speculation about the future of the Colonial Restaurant on Thompson Road has been answered: it will continue to be a restaurant. The restaurant, founded by Eudore "Ted" Morse in the 1940's and operated by the family ever since, was purchased Monday by Great Bay LLC, an operating company of Galaxy Development.

Galaxy principal Michael O'Brien said that he plans to do some work on the building and grounds, including exterior and interior painting, and landscaping.     

There had been local speculation that the prospective buyer would raze the building, which sits on three acres, and develop the property. "We never had an intention to knock it down," O'Brien said. "Our plan is to lease it out to a good quality restaurateur. We are in the real estate business, not the restaurant business."

O'Brien said that he has seven qualified restaurant operators interested in looking at the property. "It's exciting what it can be, with fresh ideas and a new menu."

By Steev Ricardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill girls are getting closer and closer to clinching a playoff berth after winning games over Tantasqua, David Prouty, and Oxford this past week while upping their record to 8-3.

The Rams got the week started on Monday by squeaking by the Tantasqua Warriors 5-3 behind the pitching of junior Brenna Foley, who tossed a four-hitter.