Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – One of the first things you notice after talking to Shepherd Hill senior Brad Picard for a few minutes is that he is quick to give credit to others for any success he has experienced during his high school years, and that is not a bad trait at all.

Picard grew up in Dudley, where he has lived his entire life with parents Holly and Taze and his brother TJ, who is in the midst of his freshman year of college at American International College in Springfield.

By Beckey Harvey
Patriot correspondent

DUDLEY - The March 18 Board of Selectmen’s meeting opened with Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski, requesting that Mr. Dave Karalus, who was serving on the building committee and fire chief advisory committee, be replaced by Mr. Burt Davis.  Karalus submitted a letter of resignation last month.  Chairman Jonathan Ruda suggested that the committee approve the appointment of Davis and send a letter of thanks to Karalus for his service. 

The board switched up the order of the agenda so that the “rather lengthy public hearing” would not hold up a representative from Nichols College.   Multiple requests by the school, for alcohol permits, were taken care of in one motion.  Nichols college received seven separate, single-day licenses to serve “wine and malt” for functions they will be hosting.

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”.

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.”

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.”

by Patriot Staff

DUDLEY - Ninety-seven voters last week unanimously approved a $725,000 appropriation to purchase a new aerial ladder fire truck. No one was happier than Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski. "It was good to get it passed, I'm very thankful to the citizens of Dudley for their support. We really need that truck. The one we have is 31 years old, and safety was an issue for the fire personnel."

The chief recounted the campaign he's waged for the last year to gain support for the new truck. He made numerous presentation, wrote newspaper articles, and explained the need for the new equipment. "It's good to see that the town's people understood why we need a new ladder truck, and supported it." He said it will be nine to eleven months before the new vehicle will be ready, They custom-build it from the ground up once the contract is signed.

  
"We're really happy everything turned out so well, and we can't wait to get the truck. Hopefully, the truck we have will last for another year."

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Jonathan Ruda also expressed his appreciation to Dudley citizens for their support.