DUDLEY - Paul M. Joseph announced that he is seeking re-election to the Dudley Board of Selectmen.  His nomination papers have been submitted and certified by Ora Finn, Town Clerk.

In his announcement, Joseph stated “I have been honored and privileged to serve the Town with a candid and independent voice for the past nine years.  We currently have an excellent Board of Selectmen that works hard, and well, together. Each of us brings a separate and complementary  set of skills to the table.  As a former college administrator and Dean, I bring 31 years of contract negotiation, legal issues knowledge, analytical skills, and management experience to the Board”.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY –The Shepherd Hill Rams baseball team probably wants to forget their dreadful finish of a year ago when they dropped six of their last eight games, resulting in a disappointing 9-11 season.

The hardest part of that pill to swallow was that the Rams had a talented bunch, many of whom will be back on the diamond this season.

In fact, when the Rams open their 2013 season, one of the toughest decisions the team may have to deal with is who to hand the ball to on the mound.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill Lady Rams are coming off a strong playoff season that ended with a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Holy Name.

Still, with a 14-9 record Coach Paul Enman and the Rams had a lot to be happy about. 

Unfortunately they lost their ace hurler Molly Covill to graduation. Covill was an outstanding leader, whose 1.21 earned run average was one of the best in the Southern Worcester County League.

By Becky Harvey
Patriot Correspondent

Eighth grade Dudley Middle Schooler, Jordan Blackadar was presented a certificate by the Superintendent of Schools at the last Dudley-Charlton School Committee meeting in recognition of his efforts to collect coats for the needy in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, last fall.  Blackadar and fellow classmate Matthew Mackay (pictured at the committee meeting,) have both been selected by the John F. Kennedy Library to receive Make a Difference awards.  “The Kennedy Library annually recognizes up to 100 middle school students from across Massachusetts with the John F. Kennedy Make a Difference Award for the impact they have made in their communities through service projects,” according to the library’s website.  The Library selects recipients based on nominations from teachers, principals and local community leaders.  Both Blackadar and Mackay  have each been invited to a ceremony at the Library on April 9^th, along with a number of other middle-schoolers from around the Commonwealth who have made efforts to change the world and make it better for people.

solar project, health plan changes, budget

By Becky Harvey
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - The March 13 school committee meeting for the Dudley-Charlton district started off with a lively presentation of certificates to students who are being acknowledged by the Kennedy Library for their Make a Difference program. Jordan Blackadar and Matthew MacKay, 8^th and 7^th graders at Dudley Middle School were recognized for their coat and pajama drives (respectively) for the needy. 

DUDLEY – The Board of Selectmen received a letter from the Charlton Board of Selectmen last week supporting the concept of limiting the local minimum contribution to Chapter 70 funding  to 2 ½ percent annually. In the letter, signed by Charlton Town Administrator Robin L. Craver, she said that the Charlton board had unanimously supported the concept.

Dudley board chairman Jonathan Ruda said in a statement, “The Dudley Board of Selectmen is happy to have the support, in concept,of the Charlton Board of Selectmen in pursuing legislation to cap the local minimum contribution of Chapter 70 funding at 2.5%.Chapter 70 mandatesimpact the local budget plan of every city and town in the Commonwealth. Pursuing a legislative remedy and a more thoughtful approach to education funding is a good first step in opening a statewide dialogue about the unsustainability of the current Chapter 70 formula. We look forward to the continued bipartisan support of Senator Moore and Representative Durant in facilitating that dialogue and we are encouraged by their willingness to consider cosponsoring the bill. When the language of the bill has been determined, presumably by the first week in April, the Board's next step will be to meet with members of the school committee and school administration to answer their questions and seek their input and support.”

Last game for Rams seniors

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Shepherd Hill Rams girls' basketball team was eliminated from the District 1 playoffs by a familiar foe last week Tuesday night at Clark University, when they went down for the fourth time this season to the Holy Name Naps 55-33.

Along with another loss to an excellent Holy Name team came a final game for the team's seven seniors, some of whom have been a big part of this basketball team for the last few years.

Technology for the 21^st century

by Becky Harvey
Patriot correspondent

DUDLEY - The Dudley Charlton School Committee meeting of February 27 kicked off on a dire note: the pending sequestration by the federal government would mean large cuts to the Title I program of the Dudley Charlton School District.  There would be substantial cuts to that program, and special education in general, should the sequestration proceed on March 1^st.  There is a seven-page document listing the numerous cuts, according to Superintendent Sean Gilrein.  In conjunction with other superintendents from around the Commonwealth, he wrote to the federal government with complaints about the devastation these cuts would create.

Another not so wonderful bit of news was that there was a bus accident on Wednesday, despite the two-hour, weather-caused delay.  The bus was “tapped” by another vehicle, a small car.  Only two students were aboard and neither was hurt.

Janet Malser Humantities Trust
Deadline April 1

The Janet Malser Humanities Trust is accepting applications for the 2013 grant cycle. Ms. Malser set up the charitable Trust in order to support the arts and humanities, community service and conservation in the towns of Dudley, Oxford, and Webster, MA.

The causes for which funding will be considered include: “the restoration and preservation of historic sites; the furtherance of art and music in the schools, both public and private; public concerts with an emphasis on classical music; the improvement and growth of public libraries; the support of church work aiding the indigent, homeless, aging citizens and needy children; beautification through planting and the preservation of park areas and cemeteries; the improvement of service and equipment at the Hubbard Regional Hospital [now Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard], and the environmental protection of Webster Lake.”

Trustees will make awards annually to verified tax-exempt organizations meeting the charitable purposes of the Trust. Prior recipients are eligible to apply so long as proper follow up status reports have been filed; otherwise they will not be considered.

Applications and instructions for the current year are available janetmalsertrust.org.  Please use the 2013 application as changes have been made. All applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2013.

Appoint Gould to aging council

By Charles Kelleher Harris
Patriot correspondent

DUDLEY— David Gould, who has spent much of his life in the public service of the town, has been missed. But now he is back and ready for action.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night to accept Gould’s appointment to the Dudley Council on Aging.

“I believe an additional male voice on the Council would be helpful,” Gould said.

“Welcome back,” said Selectman Peter Fox, “We’ve missed you… [and your] expertise.”

“I think this is important because some of the [current Council on Aging members] don’t show up for the meetings,” Gould told the board adding, “Quite frankly there are a lot of nice people down at the senior center. I only wish more elderly would go down there and make use of it.”