Media Advisory

For immediate release                                                         contact: Officer Carol Benoit

October 6, 2008                                                                                            508-347-2525        

The Sturbridge Police Department will be holding a senior police academy, to be held and conducted at the Sturbridge Senior Center, 480 Main Street in Sturbridge. This class, free for all participants, will cover various topics in law enforcement, specifically, the Sturbridge Police Department, such as motor vehicle and criminal laws, Departmental policies and responsibilities and other assorted materials.  Participants will also be eligible to ride along in a police cruiser during a patrol shift.

Classes will be held on the following dates, and are open to anyone 55 years of age or older:

Tuesday           October 21 and 28       9:30-11:30 AM
Tuesday           November 4, 18, 25     9:30-11:30 AM
Wednesday     November 12                1:00-3:00   PM
Tuesday           December 2                 9:30-11:30 AM
Wednesday     December 10               1:00-3:00   PM

Graduation will be held on December 16th, from 9:30 until 11:30 AM

To sign up, or to obtain additional information, please contact either Officer Carol Benoit at the Sturbridge Police Department 508-347-2525, or Barbara Search-Miller, Senior Center Director, 508-347-7575.        

Applicants from outside the town of Sturbridge are welcome

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Dear Town of Sturbridge residents, employees and friends,

On behalf of the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers and the Town of Sturbridge Conservation Commission, I am proud to inform you that we are a finalist in the national “Save the Trails” funding program, made possible by the generous efforts of Nature Valley and American Hiking Society’s National Trails Fund.
Adding to this honor is the fact that we were selected from a competitive pool of 160 nonprofit applicants from across the nation.

From October 1-31, you may learn about our cause and vote for us at www.wheresyours.com. The top 10 finalist with the most online votes will each receive $5,000 in funding, so your vote will help us to get one step further to revitalizing the Camp Robinson Crusoe trail in Sturbridge. This money will help us to create an accessible trail on the property during summer 2009.

Please pass the word along and encourage other hiking and outdoor enthusiasts to vote for us at www.wheresyours.com. We hope to give a great gift to our community by revitalizing the Camp Robinson Crusoe trail - a gift that will only be possible with your vote of support.

(Please see the direct link below)

Thank you in advance and happy hiking!

Very Sincerely,

Erin E. Jacque
Conservation Agent

Town of Sturbridge
308 Main Street, Town Hall
Sturbridge, MA 01566

(508) 347-2506
(508) 347-5886 (fax)
ejacque@town.sturbridge.ma.us

PLEASE USE THIS LINK:

http://www.wheresyours.com/SaveTheTrailsVote.aspx

On October 1, the Sturbridge Planning Board voted to dissolve the Zoning Study Committee 6 -1.  After Steve Halterman made this announcement, Mary Blanchard asked what the next steps would be.  Town Administrator Jim Malloy stated there were 2 options, it is either defunct or the BOS could choose to meet with the Planning Board to discuss since the ZSC was jointly formed.  Mrs.  Blanchard then asked if the votes from the previous BOS vote on September 3rd could be combined with the votes from the Planning Board Meeting to determine the final outcome for the Zoning Study Committee.

Scott Garieri didn’t think the BOS should be keeping the Zoning Study Committee if the Planning Board didn’t feel it should continue.  Steve Halterman then suggested the discussion be tabled to a later date.  Mary Blanchard disagreed and thought the BOS Chairman misinterpreted the purpose of the discussion at the September 3rd BOS meeting and that a joint meeting was required with the Planning Board.  Ted Goodwin stated the ZSC had become too politically charged and the only option was to dissolve it.  Mr. Goodwin then made a motion to dissolve the ZSC and Mrs. Blanchard seconded the motion.

Hal White stated the ZSC was the only entity conducting long range planning and asked if there could be another group to do this since the Master Plan would be revisited for another year.  Jim Malloy stated funds from free cash could be used to start the process earlier.  In addition, Jim stated the second hour in the BOS work sessions, not currently being utilized, could be used for Dialog for the Future.  Mr. Garieri agreed focusing on the Master Plan would be more effective.

The Sturbridge Board of Selectman voted to dissolve the Zoning Study Committee 4-1, Steve Halterman was the opposing vote.

In a public hearing at tonight’s Sturbridge Board of Selectman’s Meeting, Romaldo’s obtained approval for a Liquor License as well as a Common Victuallers License.  Romaldo’s, owned by Nicole Rossioli, will be replacing the Hearthstone Inn on Main Street. Also, Dunkin Donuts obtained a Common Victuallers License at the location currently occupied by Honey Dew Donuts.  The public hearing for Hyland Orchard was continued to October 20th.

Over the past year and in particular the last few months, many of us have become much more aware of the national economy, indeed the world economy, than perhaps we’d care to. Escalating costs, affecting even the most basic of necessities has prompted many to make increasing adjustments or sacrifices.

Perhaps we go to the movies less often, eat at home more regularly, travel less, vacation closer to home, or perhaps not at all. With winter soon upon us, many have already made significant modifications in terms of alternate or supplemental methods for heating our homes.

Wood, pellet, or charcoal stoves, high tech infrared portable heaters, radiant floor heating, or simple oil filled radiators and electric space heaters have become increasingly popular expenditures for those seeking to reduce their oil, gas, or electric energy costs. Insulation, weather-stripping, and energy audits are becoming increasing more popular, and indeed necessary, in maximizing the efficiency of our heating or cooling systems. Read the rest of this entry »

The REAS Foundation is pleased to announce, that it has awarded its first energy assistance grants to qualifying Sturbridge seniors. Clearly, those awards are distributed on behalf of those Sturbridge residents and businesses, who are members of the 10K Circle of Friends and 10K Circle of Businesses.

Those of you who have partnered with us thus far, as well as those of you who will soon be joining our 10K Circles, are the true conveyors of these gifts; we at the REAS Foundation are merely acting as your fiduciary agents. It is a role that we are most honored to fulfill, and one we take very seriously on your behalf.

Each of you, as members of our 10K Circles, are the reason that hope is easing some of the despair experienced by members of our community, during these uncertain economic times.

Your sense of compassion, commitment, and community, are the driving force behind the successful fundraising efforts thus far undertaken on your behalf, by the REAS Foundation. Without your support and generosity, our collective Foundation, of which you are surely members, is nothing but a name, and as such, would be of little consequence.

But, with the support of each of you who have thus far given, and certainly those who will soon give, the REAS Foundation has become a living, breathing extension of the great sense of kinship that exists here in Sturbridge. You have helped create something very special in terms of reestablishing community, as the central focus of our shared efforts, by means of true fellowship. 

While many across the nation are struggling to find solutions to the coming crisis faced by our seniors, you, the residents and businesses of Sturbridge, have demonstrated incredible community resolve in addressing this issue locally, one neighbor at a time.

Community is a term that has several meanings; 1) people with common interests living in a particular area; 2) an interacting population of various kinds of individuals; 3) a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests. Though each of these definitions are certainly applicable, they seem a tad too sterile to adequately describe what has happened here in Sturbridge.

Perhaps, the best definition of what is taking place within our community, is the manifestation of a “fellowship of interest, activity, feeling, and experience”. Truly, there is great interest and activity surrounding this endeavor, and it is no doubt that much of it comes from each of us experiencing the need to do something tangible, and the feeling that each of us can truly make a difference.

It is great to live in a community, but it is so much more rewarding and fulfilling to live within this great community; filled with an abundance of fellowship. 

Thomas R. Creamer - Executive Director

REAS Foundation
PO Box 737
Fiskdale, MA 01518

http://www.reasfoundation.org

info@reasfoundation.org

Hello friends and neighbors,

 I am writing as team leader of team Walk for Dee.  This coming Sunday we will be walking for the fourth year in an effort to raise money towards cancer research at UMASS Medical’s Walk to Cure Cancer.

We started walking as a team in memory of our friend/ cousin Doreen Durling Pepin who lost he battle with Ovarian Cancer on 10/04/04.

This year our fundraising efforts have effected us more than ever. My cousin Maria Caraballo lost her fight w/ Brain Cancer on 10/28/07 and also we will walk for my cousin Ronnie Pepin who lost his battle in 1989 with Brain Cancer.  Our family continues to struggle against the fight with cancer and the memories of those we have lost.  We can only hope and pray that with each dollar raised a cure will soon be found. 

Please donate to the Walk for Dee so that all those who continue to struggle with Cancer have a better chance.  Every dollar counts. Spread the word, spread awareness.  Together we can.

http://www.firstgiving.com/gwendolynbultron2

 You can also view additonal information at the following two websites:

 http://www.myspace.com/walkfordee  

tp://www.walktocurecancer.com/

Thank you in advance,

 Gwen Bultron

Team Leader

Walk for Dee

Girl Scout registrations for the town of Sturbirdge will be Wednesday, September 17th at Burgess Elementary School, North Cafe, 6:30-8:00pm.   If you have any questions, please contact Trish Westberg at 508 347-1498 or email: zew0925@charter.net  Please help spread the word.

As reported on the telegram.com, based on a recommendation from Town Administrator Jim Malloy, the Sturbridge Board of Selectmen voted 4 - 0 to increase the residential tax burden to 79% in fiscal year 2009 .  According to the article, Jim Malloy stated:

The 79 percent tax shift translates to a 7.6 percent increase (or $269) for the average single-family home, a 6.7 percent decrease (or $854) for commercial property taxpayers, a 1.5 percent decrease (or $282) for industrial property taxpayers and a 17.4 percent increase (or $146) for personal property taxpayers.

This shift towards a higher burden for residential property taxpayers started 2 years ago when the Sturbridge BOS vited to increase the burden from 75% to 77% .  This was the result of the Sturbridge BOS decision to return to a single tax rate over the next 3 years.  The increase of the residential tax burden to 79% is in line with the single tax rate decision and for 2010 the tax burden will increase to 81.3%.

Sturbridge Service Center owner Craig Moran, presented REAS Foundation Chairman Scott Garieri and Vice-Chairman, with a $1000.00 donation today, to become the latest member of the 10K Circle of Businesses, an effort to raise $10,000 from Sturbridge Businesses.

Mr. Moran, who has lived in Sturbridge for 21 years, stated that “the crisis facing our seniors, is a crisis facing all of us, and one that demands a community response. As a resident and a business member of this community, I want to be part of the solution to the problems facing our seniors.” Mr. Moran went on to “challenge local businesses to do whatever they can financially to help with the coming crisis which will have its greatest impact on our seniors”. 

Chairman Scott Garieri, stated that “Craig’s donation demonstrates the true sense of community that our residents and businesses bring to the table as members of this community”. He thanked Mr. Moran for “his generous donation” and urged “other businesses to help in any way they could”.

Vice-Chairman James Malloy thanked “Craig for his generosity and his willingness to play such a significant role in helping Sturbridge seniors. Mr. Malloy added that “We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals in our community”.

Executive Director Thomas R. Creamer, added that “the donation by Craig Moran on behalf of Sturbridge Service Center. will enhance our ability to provide relief to Sturbridge seniors who will be faced with difficult decisions in the months ahead”. He added that “Craig’s gift is a lifeline to those facing desperate times”.