Sturbridge 7-27-07 (Page 1) - Stonebridge Press and Villager ...

Friday, October 31, 2008
• STURBRIDGE VILLAGER 7
Food pantry sees requests for assistance increase
Tough economic times are upon us, and
the food shelves of the Wales Community
Food Pantry attest to this fact.
Experiencing a nearly 400 percent
increase in services over last year, the
pantry, which serves the towns of
Brimfield, Holland and Wales, is putting
out a community SOS.
“In the past we typically served about 20
people a month. Last month we served 149
people, and we expect this number to
increase even more as the heating season
progresses and people have to choose
between food or fuel,” Director Judy
Jegelewicz explained.
According to Mrs. Jegelewicz, the average
recipient receives about 25-30 pounds
of food per month. Food is distributed
each Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. at the
Wales Senior Center, 85 Main St. (Route
19). Those served are required to supply
verification of income or proof of participation
in a social service program.
As a member agency of the Food Bank
of Western Massachusetts, the pantry
purchases food at a discount, paying just
19 cents per pound, but Mrs. Jegelewicz
notes this valuable resource is also at risk.
“Due to demand, food bank supply
stretched thinner and thinner, therefore
AROUND
TANTASQUA
TOWNS
KAREN
TRAINOR
we cannot purchase
as much as we used
to from them,” she
said.
Cash donations
and non-perishable
food items are currently
sought to help
with the expected
influx of requests
during the cold
weather season. The
pantry is presently
experiencing shortages
of rice, pasta,
cereals and beans,
according to the
director.
“Any donations of
cash or food would
be greatly appreciated.
However we would ask people please
check with us if a group would like to do a
donation so we can tell them what we
specifically need,” she said.
Food pantry donations are tax
deductible. For more information about
the Wales Community Food Pantry, call
(413) 245-9683.
Holland Highlights
The results are in, and two Holland residents
have earned a tip of the chef’s hat
for their exceptional culinary contributions
at the recent Holland Community
Harvest Festival.
Nancy Lussier earned top honors for
her old fashioned apple pie, filled to the
brim with fresh local apples — which
earned rave reviews from the judges.
Jonathon Mason, who serves as musical
director at the Holland Congregational
Church, was the surprise chili champ, as
his mouth-watering effort paid off with a
first prize trophy.
“People were so happy he won and the
big hurrah is that it was made by a guy
who never cooks,” noted Holland Senior
Center Activities Director Linda Artruc,
who joked, “I think his new bride helped
him a bit with it!”
The two winners each received an
impressive etched gold plated trophy,
which will be passed on to each year’s new
winner.
According to Friends of Holland
Seniors Treasurer Nancy Talbot, The
Holland Community Harvest Fundraiser,
held last Saturday, reached its goal of raising
enough money to purchase 30 new
chairs for the Holland Senior Center.
“It’s great that we raised the money to
buy the chairs, which was our goal, but he
most important thing is that this event
brought the community together and put
smiles on the faces of lots of kids,” Mrs.
Talbot said.
Village Theatre November Schedule
A month of family-friendly Friday
night movies is just around the corner at
The Stephen M. Brewer Theater at the
Visitor Center at Old Sturbridge Village.
Beginning with a Halloween showing of
“The Incredible Hulk,” the cinema runs
memorable movies each week for $5 per
ticket. Showtime is 7 p.m. Movies are now
in surround sound, and tickets are sold at
the door. Popcorn and snacks are available.
• Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov.
1: “The Incredible Hulk” (PG-13), starring
Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth,
directed by Louis Leterrier, 114 minutes.
• Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8: “Kit
Kittredge: An American Girl” (G), starring
Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci and
Jane Krakowski, directed by Patricia
Rozema, 101 minutes.
• Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15: “Kung
Fu Panda” (PG), animated feature, voices
by Jack Black, Jackie Chan and Angelina
Jolie, DreamWorks, 92 minutes.
• Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22:
“WALL-E” (G), animated feature, voices
by Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin and Ben
Burtt, Walt Disney Studios, 97 minutes.
• Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29:
“Hancock” (PG-13), starring Will Smith,
Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman,
directed by Peter Berg; 92 minutes.
Kudos: To Holland resident Neil
Leighton, who generously lent the services
of his horse, Rusty, to the Holland
Community Harvest Fundraiser last
Saturday. Rusty was a major highlight of
the fair, as kids eagerly lined up for a turn
to ride the chestnut horse.
We welcome items of interest to
Tantasqua town residents of Sturbridge,
Brookfield, Brimfield, Holland and Wales.
Send information on local events and
upcoming happenings to Around
Tantasqua Towns, c/o The Sturbridge
Villager, 25 Elm St., Southbridge, MA
01550. Or e-mail me directly at
KDRR@aol.com.
Bay Path Students creeping up on neat invention
BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL
STAFF WRITER
CHARLTON — With an $8,050 grant at
their disposal, Bay Path Regional
Vocational Technical High School students
are designing and building a creeper
— essentially a sled used to reach under
a vehicle to repair it.
A former Bay Path student, who is
handicapped, inspired the device’s creation,
according to Chrissy Redmond, a
spokesman for the Lemelson Program
that awarded the grant to the school. She
declined to name the person.
“They were inspired by this particular
individual,” said Executive Director of
the Lemelson Program Josh Schuler.
“They tackled the problem of someone in
their community.”
The device, in general, allows a handicapped
individual without use of his
lower body, according to a Thursday, Oct.
16 press release from the school.
The nationwide Lemelson initiative, in
partnership with the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, is geared to
inspire high school students to invent
products and be creative, according to a
press release from the school.
“Our hope is to really inspire this new
generation of inventors. There are a lot of
benefits,” Schuler said. “This provides a
different way to learn.”
The school is scheduled to present a
prototype at the EurekaFest in Cambridge
in June. A panel of judges, including Bay
Path drafting teacher Mark Lyons, who
oversees his school’s team, awarded the
grant to the school this fall. It is one of 15
other high schools that received a grant
this year.
“InvenTeams is really about learning a
process,” Schuler said.
Months of work is ahead for the team,
which consists of all seniors. Members
plan to work together to brainstorm ideas
and final plans before sending them to
other Bay Path shops, which will build the
device, according to 18-year-old Oxford
student Breeze Grigas, who came up with
the concept for the project. The team has
already had some practice with a prototype
they built, but creating the final version
of the device will lend itself easily to
learning.
“If [somebody] comes to you with a
problem, you solve it,” said Bay Path student
and 17-year-old Oxford student
Brandon Myhaver of lessons learned during
the project.
Myhaver’s classmate, 17-year-old North
Brookfield native Joe Mason, an aspiring
mechanical engineer, said it motivates
students to be more creative.
“It inspires you to come up with better
ideas,” he said.
Schuler stressed the need for the competition
to keep students doing well in
math and science. It also teaches them
leadership, teamwork and professional
skills as they work toward future careers,
he said.
The program’s results are evident.
Schuler said he sees the success when past
participants obtain internships or continue
their InvenTeam project for years to
come.
“It’s incredibly empowering for students,”
Schuler said. “Our hope is to really
inspire this new generation of inventors.”
As seniors who will graduate at the end
of the school year, the program should
“plant a seed” in the minds of students
working towards a future career.
“It looks great for college,” Myhaver
said.
Much of the coursework they have covered
is college-level, according to team
member Travis Malo, 17, of Auburn.
In addition to the students’ benefits, the
school’s reputation should improve as a
result of the project, Myhaver said.
“It gives the school a good reputation,”
he said. “A lot of people still look down on
vocational school.”
Lyons will guide the team as it continues
to work toward its goal.
“I think it fits really well with what Bay
Path does,” he said.
Ryan Grannan-Doll can be reached by
phone at (508) 909-4050, or by e-mail at
rgrand@stonebridgepress.com.
OBITUARIES
Robert E. Bombard Jr., 80
WORCESTER — Robert E. Bombard, Jr., 80,
of Grand St., died Sunday, Oct. 26 in the
UMass Memorial Medical Center, Memorial
Campus, Worcester, after an illness.
He leaves his wife, Gwyneth (Caffrey)
Bombard; six sons, James F. Bombard of
Spencer, Mark B. Bombard of Hardwick,
Robert E. Bombard, III of New Bedford,
Matthew C. Bombard of Commerce
Township, MI, Philip Q. Bombard of
Worcester, and Andrew J. Bombard of
Northampton; a brother, William Bombard of
Worcester; and seven grandchildren. He was
born in Worcester the son of Robert E. and
Anne (Fritsch) Bombard, Sr.. Robert attended
South High School in Worcester and was a
graduate of Cushing Academy. He received
both his Bachelors and Masters degrees from
Springfield College.
Leah Janet Phipps, 80
HAMPSTEAD, N.C. — Leah Janet Phipps,
80, of Hampstead, died in peace on Oct. 21 at
The UNC Hospital-Chapel Hill Burn Center.
A Memorial Mass was held Monday, Oct. 27
at St. Jude Catholic Church in Hampstead
where Leah Janet had been a faithful parish
member for more than 10 years.
Born in Quincy, Mass. on March 15, 1928,
she was the daughter of Joseph and Josette
(Savoie) Burke.
She is survived by her best friend and husband
of 57 years, Daniel Phipps, and her eight
loving children and 15 grandchildren.
Daniel and Janet resided with their family
on Fiske Hill in Sturbridge from 1969 through
1978.
Robert was the Assistant Principal at
Tantasqua Regional High School in
Sturbridge for 20 years before retiring many
years ago. Robert was active with the
Worcester Boys Club for most of his life; as a
member, as the former Program Director for
the Lincoln Square Boys Club and as a member
of the Board of Directors.
Calling hours in the Daniel T. Morrill
Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St.,
Southbridge, will be held on Wednesday, Oct.
29th, from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Burial will be held
at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to
the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, 65
Tainter St., Worcester, MA 01610. www.morrillfuneralhome.com
Donations may be made to the N.C. Jaycee
Burn Center, UNC Hospitals, 101 Manning
Drive, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. The phone
number is (919) 966-3571.
She is now forever with angels in paradise.
STURBRIDGE — Ruth E. (Sutton) Chester,
87, of 100 Heritage Green Drive, died at Radius
Healthcare after an illness.
She leaves her loving husband of 55 years,
Ervin E. Chester; her loving granddaughters,
Heidi Epstein of Jupiter, Fla., Cheryl
Spalding of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Tanya
Webb of Malden and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Judith
L. Webb, who died Jan. 23, 2006.
She was born in Canada, the daughter of
Frederic W. Lapierre, 78
BRIMFIELD — Frederic W. “Fred”
Lapierre, 78, of Old Sturbridge Road died
Monday, Oct. 23, in Harrington Memorial
Hospital after an illness. He leaves his wife of
48 years, Shirley A. (Clark) Lapierre. They
were married June 10, 1960. He also leaves a
son Frederic C. A. Lapierre of Brimfield, a
daughter Valerie L. Fontaine of Monson, four
grandchildren, and a brother David Kettles of
Wales. He was predeceased by his daughter
Karen A. Lapierre who died in April 1992.
Fred was born in Newport, Vt., son of the
late Frederic F.Lapierre and Alleen (Brush)
Lapierre Kettles. His step-father was the late
Ervin Kettles. Fred graduated from
Cambridge High School in Cambridge
Vermont. He was a U.S. Army Korean War
veteran and later served in the Army
National Guard. He lived in Brimfield for
many years where he and his wife owned and
operated Hillside Kennels for 30 years where
Ruth E. Chester, 87
Hugh and Margaret Sutton and lived in
Sturbridge 14 years and lived in Bellville
Mich., for many years.
Her funeral was held Monday, Oct. 20 in
Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery, Agawam.
Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy
St., Southbridge, directed the arrangements.
An online guestbook is available at
www.BelangerFuneralHome.com.
he raised German shepherd
dogs. Fred worked as a diesel
engineer/mechanic for Bloom
Trailer for many years, and also
at the Springfield Boy's Club
Camp in Brimfield for 18 years.
He was also a school bus driver
for disabled children, and was a volunteer
firefighter for the Town of Brimfield. He
enjoyed model trains, stamp collecting, and
enjoyed car racing with his red & white
Triumph racing car, racing on occasion with
the late Paul Newman whom he kept in contact
with over the years. He also transported
horses for 4-H horse shows.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on
Sunday Nov. 2, 2008 in Brimfield Cemetery
with Rev. Lynch officiating. Sansoucy
Funeral Home 40 Marcy St., Southbridge, is
directing the arrangements. sansoucyfuneral.com
Send all obituary notices to the
Sturbridge Villager, 25 Elm St.,
Southbridge, MA 01550, or by e-mail
to sturbridge@stonebridgepress.com.
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