September 13, 2012 pdf edition - Quaboag Current

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PAGE 4 A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, September 13, 2012 - opinion - editorial We speak for the trees We have some of the most beautiful woodlands and forests in the entire state and country here in Central Massachusetts and the time has come for protecting even more acres while offering taxpayers more bang for their bucks with passive recreational opportunities. The federal Forest Legacy Program in Massachusetts was offi - cially green lighted in 1993 for fi ve distinct areas, including Stockbridge Yokun Ridge Reserve, Estabrook Woods, Holyoke Range and Western Valley Watersheds of the Connecticut Valley, North Quabbin Corridor, and the Nashua River Greenway. Sadly, a similar six-town proposal known as the Quinebaug Forest Legacy Area stalled out back then. So it is only right that our local woods should be included in this wonderful program we all pay for. Despite being the third most densely populated state in the nation, well over 64 percent of Massachusetts remains forested. Because of increasing population and demands on land for development, these forests have been fragmented and are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses and users. Local land trusts and other environmental preservation groups have done wonders in recent years to fi ll the gaps by purchasing idle and at-risk properties. However, the process to identify and protect privately owned woodlands that are under threat of fragmentation is still a very real need in our area. According to Jennifer Ohop, a staff naturalist at Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary and president of the highly effective Opacum Land Trust, a legacy designation for our area, as now proposed by the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership, would have no regulatory aspect. It would also enable land trusts like hers and others as well as towns and state agencies to tap into federal funds for land conservation. And that is an ever-shrinking pool of money. If the measure passes muster at the state legacy committee level on Sept. 19 and then receives approvals with various governing agencies, the proposed Heritage Corridor Forest Legacy Area would cover 421,100 acres and encompass 26 towns, including Granby, Belchertown, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, Palmer, Monson, Wales, Holland, Brimfi eld, Warren, Ware, West Brookfi eld, New Braintree, North Brookfi eld, Brookfi eld, East Brookfi eld, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Dudley, Charlton, Spencer, the majority of Oakham, Leicester and parts of Rutland and Paxton. Ohop says, “ecosystems in this region contain public water supply watersheds; rare, threatened, and endangered species habitat, especially for reptiles and amphibians; working woodlands; and scenic values associated with woods, forests and rural character.” We agree. And such a designation would provide a natural buffer and wildlife corridor connection to neighboring legacy areas. Just think about how many unprotected forests exist within your towns that are not ripe for commercial or residential development. With such a designation, local land trusts and state agencies could then apply for federal funding to conserve sensitive woodland parcels within the legacy boundaries. Now is the time to fi ll in the missing piece of our state’s unprotected forest areas. We wish the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership success in its renewed effort to make this proposal become reality. Letter to the Editor Help needed on Gateway Trail TO THE EDITOR: Everbearing raspberries a big hit I am in my second year of growing everbearing raspberries, and for the last two weeks I have done nothing but rave about them. You see every other night I have left the garden with nearly a cup of berries from only seven or so canes- plenty for my kids to enjoy as a healthy home-grown snack. This time last year I wasn’t exactly singing the same tune. I had only planted them in June, so my expectations were obviously set too high. Yes, I had a few berries, but they were small, and began ripening just prior to the fi rst hard frost. Which, you guessed it, made me wonder what the catalogs were fussing about when they went into glorious detail on how yummy the fruit was- I barely had any! Chock that up to it being the fi rst year. With this kind of harvest in year two, I can’t wait to see what upcoming seasons will bring. The term “everbearing” is a misnomer of sorts. You see, this type of raspberry does not bear continually throughout the summer and fall. It has two crops, one in the summer on the canes that grew last year and a second in late summer/early fall on the tips of the new canes that grew just this season. Some gardeners prefer to forgo the summer crop in favor of a larger fall crop, especially if they have standard raspberry plants already bearing fruit at that time. To eliminate summer bearing and concentrate on a bigger, later harvest, simply cut or mow your patch down to ground level early in the season. At this time you can apply a topdressing of compost or aged manure over the bed, followed by a thick mulch of shredded leaves, rotted sawdust or aged wood chips to reduce weed competition and conserve moisture. Forgo adding any lime; raspberries like a slightly acidic soil. Do On Sept. 9, help is needed for continued construction of the Gateway Trail, Sturbridge’s fi rst specifi cally designed and designated “single track” trail on the Leadmine Mt Property. This gateway trail is designed to be a family friendly trail where one can enjoy an easy hike or practice their Mt Bike skills. The project hours are from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday Sept 9th. Meet at the Shattuck Rd gate, 10 Shattuck Rd., Leadmine Mt. Conservation Area. Wear sturdy work shoes, bring your water bottle and Pick/Mattocks if you have one, otherwise tools will be provided. make sure your canes get additional water throughout the summer if Mother Nature isn’t feeling generous. Other than that, your work is done until picking time. I have three varieties Roberta McQuaid of everbearing raspberries. ‘Polana’ is from Poland and known for early bearing, excellent winter hardiness and large red berries. It is good eaten fresh as well as frozen. ‘Caroline’ is another early bearer and quite vigorous. Firm, medium to large red berries have great fl avor, and freeze well too. Both of these are available nearby at Nourse Farms. Request their spring catalog(www.noursefarms.com) and just wait for your mouth to water!! The third variety is my least favorite, although my fi ve year old would say otherwise. ‘Fall Gold’ produces medium- sized creamy gold berries that are sweet but crumbly. The plants appear to be the least vigorous of the three, but I am reminded that it is only their second year. Maybe I will have another change of heart in twelve months. Now that the berry patch is up and growing I need to install a “T” trellis to keep the canes from being trampled by snow. Hardwood stakes made in the shape of a double-decker ‘T’ are placed at each end of the raspberry bed. Lengths of wire attached to each cross piece to draw canes in and up. Ah- mowing the aisles will be a breeze, as will harvesting the fruit. Confused by my description? Check out a great illustration of a “T” trellis in ‘The Fruit Gardener’s Bible’ by Lewis Hill and Leonard Perry (Storey Publishing $24.95). I N THE GARDEN Single track trail is no more than 2-3-feet wide, bench cut trail designed for hiking or Mt. Bike use. Single track is the least formal of all the various types of trails and is generally constructed all by hand. Properly designed with less than 40 degree hillside approach angles, grades of no more than 15 percent, undulations, dips and ticks, this type of single track trail is sustainable, low maintenance and a joy to experience. The area off of Shattuck Road selected for this trail will offer great views and vantage points to Sturbridge as well as providing a trail where residents can practice their Mt. Bike skills without “getting lost” on the adjoining 1,000 acres of open space. This newspaper is published every Friday by Turley Publications, Inc., 24 Water St., Palmer, Mass. 01069. Telephone (413) 283-8393, Fax (413) 289-1977. PATRICK H. TURLEY Publisher KEITH TURLEY Executive Vice President DOUGLAS L. TURLEY Vice President of Publications EDITOR Tim Kane ADVERTISING SALES Jacky Haesaert, Tim Mara and Jeanne Bonsall SPORTS EDITOR Dave Forbes SOCIAL MEDIA @QuaboagCurrent TownCommonNewspapers WEB www.quaboagcurrent.com www.tantasquatowncommon.com www.turley.com Turley Publications, Inc. cannot assume liability for the loss of photographs or other materials submitted for publication. Materials will not be returned except upon specific request when submitted. Thomas Chamberland Sturbridge connect with us online Quaboag Current Town Common Newspapers OPINION PAGE/ LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less in length, and guest columns between 500 and 800 words. No unsigned or anonymous opinions will be published. We require that the person submitting the opinion also include his or her town of residence and home telephone number. We authenticate authorship prior to publication. We reserve the right to edit or withhold any submissions deemed to be libelous, unsubstantiated allegations, personal attacks, or defamation of character. Send opinions to: Letters to the Editor, 80 Main Street, Ware, MA 01082 OR e-mail to tkane@turley.com. Deadline for submission is Monday at noon for the following week’s edition.
North Brookfi eld Board of Selectmen Notebook -NORTH BROOKFIELD- By Jennifer Grybowski Turley Publications Reporter Peter Barstow, of 8 River Road, approached the board to ask they declare River Road a public way. “What we are asking is to please review this information and put it on the record once and for all this is a public road and if it is a public road, it needs certain treatment by the town,” he said. Barstow began the discussion by giving a detailed history on the road, dating back to 1830. “When North Brookfi eld became a town, it was acknowledged that the road was a public road used for transportation from Brookfi eld to Spencer as an alternate to Boston Post Road,” he said. Barstow said the road suffers from drainage issues and that neighborhood residents had spoken with then-Highway Department Superintendent Richard Barnes. Barstow alleged Barnes assessed the road and advised residents to put a pit at the bottom of the road to collect the water – and recommended his brother for the job. Barstow said the neighborhood raised the funds to construct the pit and had it installed. “Every deed along that road has a provision that it is part of a right of way that leads to the lake,” Barstow said. “Historically, the town has acknowledged it as a public road and we took it upon ourselves to try to fi x this drainage.” But the pit has fi lled in with sand and silt over the years, and as a result, during rain events there is a puddle two-and-ahalf feet deep at the bottom of the road, Barstow said. The neighborhood has been constantly repairing the road itself by putting in barrels of cold patch. “We would only ask you come down every two or three years and pluck the stuff out of there and we’ll have the drain available to us to absorb the problem,” he said. HAPPY APPLE• SNACK BAR • Dumplings • Ice Cream • Hot Dogs • Cider • Baked Macaroni & Cheese T&G TREE SERVICE 413-813-9510 REMOVAL PRUNING STORM DAMAGE Certified Climber George Louvitakis 413-813-9510 Traci Mae 508-612-9724 Fully Insured FREE ESTIMATES We Are Open Year Round! 9-5 In North Brookfield Brookfield Orchards Follow signs from Rts. 9, 31, 67 or 148 PICK YOUR OWN APPLES Sat., Sept. 15, 2-4 pm Wibble & Friends Sun., Sept. 16, 2-4pm Korn Kob Band • Jelly • Preserves • Relish Sat., Sept. 15 & Sun., Sept. 16 Weather Grampa’s Kettle Korn Permiting • Candy • Toys • Honey • Maple • Historic Maps • Cheese • Cider Sun., Sept. 16, 12-2pm “One Letter at a Time” Book Signing Rick Hoyt & Todd Civin • Recreation Area/Playground • Apple Pies & Dumplings (Reg. & Sweet ‘n Low) • Apple Pies & Dumplings • Gifts • Antiques & Collectibles Find Us On 508-867-6858 • 877-622-7555 www.browsethebrookfields • www.brookfieldorchardsonline.com please recycle this newspaper FOR RENT Quabbin Estates 41 Church Lane Wheelwright, MA 01094 Accepting applications for immediate openings. Handicap accessible unit available.The apartment features - w/w carpeting, kitchen appliances, maintenance coverage, laundry facilities. We specialize in Senior Housing and “Barrier Free” accessible units. Rent is $615/mo. or 30% of adjusted income, whichever is greater. RD regulations. CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 413-477-6496 TDD (800)439-2379 Barstow also reminded the board that the town has plowed and salted/sanded the road for years. Rich Baronoski, 18 River Road, also spoke about the matter. He said the Highway Department has occasionally, upon request, attempted to remedy the situation. “I’ve had it with the band aids,” he said. “I’m asking for safety, which is number one. I want to get down to my driveway. There has to be some solution, because when you can’t get home or get to work, or God forbid a fatality or we have to call 911, then we’d have a serious issue.” Selectman Mary Walter pointed out to the residents that the Highway Department had nothing to do with the implementation of the pit to begin with – he simply recommended someone to do the work. “That was not within his purview on private property,” she said. She added that the bylaws allow the town to do a certain amount of maintenance on private roads and also allow the town to plow private roads. Selectman Richard Chabot told the residents that according to Town Counsel’s opinion, the road is, in fact, a private way. “We spent a lot of money and a lot of time researching this,” Walter said. “What we found out is the lower part of River Road is actually an easement granted for access to those houses.” The price of safety Police Chief Aram Thomasian, Jr. addressed the board looking for support increasing part time wages for his offi cers. “Some [part-timers] have been here many years and they are good offi cers,” he said. “But I don’t expect they will be here much longer.” Currently, part time offi cers make $12.86 per hour. “Looking at the surrounding towns, that is well under their limits,” he said. “There have been a few problems occurring with our help going to other towns. I’m trying to alleviate that. There is such a substantial A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, September 13, 2012 PAGE 5 Fiddle Center FIDDLES, MANDOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, DOBROS Lots of Lesson Times Available In Piano, Drum, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Flute & Banjo Like Us On Facebook All Lessons $16.00/ Half Hour 300 Main Street, Route 9, East Brookfield 508-867-6600 • www.fiddlecenter.com difference in the amounts of pay.” He noted that part time pay for East Brookfi eld is $14.90, Brookfi eld is $13.26, Holland is $15.16, Barre is $13.60 and West Brookfi eld ranges from $16.07 to $21.47 depending on years of service. He said increasing his part-timers’ pay by a dollar, raising it to $13.86, would cost the town about $2,140. The board agreed to take the information under advisement. STM and Special Town Election The board reminded residents a Special Town Election will be held Thursday, Oct. 4 from 12 to 8 p.m. to decide on the Bay Path Regional Technical High School expansion and renovation project. The board also voted to set the fall Special Town Meeting for Friday, Nov. 2. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s offi ce. Open space The board reviewed a memo produced by Finance Committee members Chet Lubleczyk and Bob Locatelli that assessed available town-owned lands. About 25 parcels, some of them landlocked, are scattered throughout town. The memo noted these lands can be seen as extremely valuable for open space and recreational purposes, but that the potential for income has been overlooked. Three potential ways the town could make money on the land are by logging, leasing or selling the properties. The board voted to take the report under advisement and forward it to the Forest Commission for review. In other forest news, the board reviewed a request for support of a Forest Legacy Area grant project and decided hold off on offering their support until they collect more information on the matter, as the majority of forested land in town belongs to private owners. See NB NOTEBOOK I PAGE 6 500 Main Street Route 20 Sturbridge, MA 508-347-0130 www.mtlaurelyarn.com OPEN: Wed.-Sat. 10am-5:30pm CLOSED Sunday-Tuesday Savers Bank can Meet Your Commercial Needs Anywhere in Southern New England. Holyoke, MA - Apartment and Retail: $3,000,000 W. Springfield, MA - Hotel: $1,500,000 Charlton, MA - Industrial: $2,000,000 Worcester, MA - Elder Care Facility: $800,000 Southbridge, MA - Apartment Complex: $3,200,000 Boston, MA - Office Building: $6,000,000 Barnstable, RI - Hotel: $800,000 Middletown, CT - Office and Retail: $2,600,000 Contact our commercial services team today and we’ll help build your business. www.saversbank.com 1-800-649-3036 Southbridge Uxbridge Auburn Grafton Charlton Sturbridge Member FDIC / Member SIF / Equal Housing Lender Local state primary results -REGION- Compiled by Jennifer Grybowski Turley Publications Reporter The state primary election was held Sept. 6. Brookfi eld A total of 144 ballots were cast in Brookfi eld. For the Democrats: Senator in Congress, Elizabeth Warren, 75; Representative in Congress, Richard E Neal, 65, Andrea Nuciforo, Jr., 21, Bill Shein, 5; Senator in General Court, Stephen M. Brewer, 90; Representative in General Court, Anne M. Gobi, 89; Clerk of Courts, Dennis P. McManus, 81; Register of Deeds, Anthony Vigliotti, 81; For the Republicans: Senator in Congress, Scott P. Brown, 46; Councillor, Jennie L. Caissie, 40; and Representative in General Court, Jason M. Petraitis, 44. No ballots were cast for the Green Rainbow Party. North Brookfi eld A total of 210 ballots were cast in North Brookfi eld. For the Democrats: Senator in Congress, Elizabeth Warren, 94; Representative in Congress, James McGovern, 99, William Feegbeh, 13; Senator in General Court, Stephen M. Brewer, 118; Representative in General Court, Anne M. Gobi, 120; Clerk of Courts, Dennis P. McManus, 98; Register of Deeds, Anthony Vigliotti, 99; For the Republicans: Senator in Congress, Scott P. Brown, 84; Councillor, Jennie L. Caissie, 68; and Representative in General Court, Jason M. See RESULTS I PAGE 7 50% OFF Inventory Reduction
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