Lieutenant sworn in, water storage and sewer connections addressed

Photo: Webster Police Lieutenant Michael Shaw (center) with left to right, his wife Julie, mother Jane Cook and daughters MacKenzie and Abigail during Lieutenant Shaw’s swearing in at the meeting December 17.

By Thomas D’Agostino
Patriot correspondent

WEBSTER -  Police Officer Michael Shaw was sworn in as Lieutenant last night before family, friends and the Board of Selectmen. Town Administrator John McAuliffe gave a brief speech commending Shaw’s performance on the force and promotion, calling it “bright leadership.”

Police Chief Timothy Bent stood with Shaw’s mother Jane Cook and his wife Julie, while Town Clerk Robert Craver swore Lieutenant Shaw in. The new lieutenant’s two daughters, Abigail, age 9 and MacKenzie, age 12 had the honor of pinning the badge on Lieutenant Shaw.

Webster Public Works Director, J.T. Gaucher addressed the board in regard to updates on sewer connections. There are some homes that should be tied into the main sewer system but have yet to comply. A list mentioned seventeen non-connected properties that according to the DPW have no reason not to tie in. Another list compiled also mentions those properties that cannot be connected. When questioned on the force flow properties, Mr. Gaucher told the board that connecting to these properties is a dangerous liability and stated, “It will never happen on my watch.”

hears Lake Parkway safety concern

Local aid cuts not expected to affect schools

by Charles Kelleher Harris
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER- Assistant Superintendent Ted Avlas says that the new Park Avenue School building project is on track and moving ahead.

"We are on time," Avlas told the Webster School Committee last week Monday, "Things look good going forward."

According to Avlas' report the building committee recently met to discuss the new technology that will be utilized by both staff and students.

This technology includes video surveillance and security equipment.

Avlas said that around $900,000 has been designated for the school's technological equipment.

However, Avlas explained that because the school won't be completed until late 2015 it was not possible to preselect equipment, since any current equipment would be outdated by the school’s scheduled opening.

Webster district-wide letter addresses tragedy

[Editor note: Webster Superintendent of Schools Barbara Malkas knew Dawn Hochsprung at Sage College of Albany. These are her remarks. Her letter to the district follows.]

Dawn Hochsprung, Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, was a graduate student at the Sage College of Albany Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. I (Superintendent Malkas) was her "Executive Coach" in the program. She was an amazing principal that worked tirelessly on behalf of her students, and she was always concerned that she would not be able to juggle the demands of her job, graduate school, and family life (her daughter is scheduled to be married at her home this June).

It was my job to encourage her, to read her papers and give her feedback, and above all be a sounding board to her concerns. I so enjoyed working with her and liked that she referred to me as her “life coach”. In her final moments,  she pressed the intercom so that the school would be alerted to the presence of the intruder. Her act of courage and thoughtfulness saved lives from an already tragic death toll for the community in Newtown, CT. Please pray for her, her family, the other victims and their families.

The following letter will be posted to the district website:

Dear Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians, and Community Partners,

The recent events have affected all of us, and they could lead us to conclude that the world we live in today is fear filled, requiring constant vigilance. As more information is released to the media, we may learn more about the perpetrators in these tragic events, but we will never know enough that will help us to understand what motivates such evil in the hearts of man. When children are the target of those filled with evil, it is beyond our ability comprehend. The innocent deserve our protection, and there are none more innocent than children.

On Thursday, December 6th, 2012, a community partnership of administration from Webster Public Schools, the Police Department, Fire and Rescue, and the Department of Public Health, met to revise the medical and emergency response plans.

Local aid cuts not expected to affect schools

By Charles Kelleher Harris
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER- Assistant Superintendent Ted Avlas says that the new Park Avenue School building project is on track and moving ahead.

"We are on time," Avlas told the Webster School Committee last week Monday, "Things look good going forward."

According to Avlas' report the building committee recently met to discuss the new technology that will be utilized by both staff and students.

This technology includes video surveillance and security equipment.

Avlas said that around $900,000 has been designated for the school's technological equipment.

However, Avlas explained that because the school won't be completed until late 2015 it was not possible to preselect equipment, since any current equipment would be outdated by the school’s scheduled opening.

Saturday, Dec. 15
Overwhelmed by the holiday season?

Wrap up your holiday at Bartlett High School! The Senior Class of 2013 is sponsoring a gift wrapping fundraiser on Saturday, December 15 from 10:00 am-2:00pm in the cafeteria. Each gift will cost $2 to wrap, 3 gifts for $5, and 5 or more gifts for $10. Additional decorations, for that special someone, can be added for a small fee. All proceeds go to the Bartlett class of 2013. Thank you for your support.

BOSTON – Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, announced today that the Webster Public Schools has been awarded a 21^st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) competitive grant through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The $55,707 grant will enable the creation of a CCLC Demonstration Site at the Webster Middle School.

“These funds will go a long way to help Webster students to achieve success and ultimately boost learning outcomes in the district,” said Sen. Moore. “I applaud the faculty and staff of the Webster Public Schools for their hard work and foresight in applying for this grant,” he continued.

From: Lieutenant Michael D. Shaw
Date: December 7, 2012

On December 7^th, Detectives James Hoover and Gordon Wentworth developed information that a shotgun which had been previously reported stolen in the town of Webster may be in the possession of certain individuals located in Oxford. Detective Hoover developed information that they might be headed to Webster. They were eventually located and stopped by Webster Police at which time information was developed that led to the recovery of the shotgun that was stolen from a motor vehicle on November 29, 2012. The suspects also admitted to breaking into numerous cars in the Blueberry Hill, Killdeer Island area. It is estimated that there were approximately 15 to 20 cars broken into. That investigation continues into the car breaks, and it is expected police will be contacting victims as it progresses.

The suspects are as follows:

Devin Mongeau 10/22/92 10 Prospect Street #6, Webster

B&E vehicle in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony

Larceny of a firearm

Larceny over $250.00

Improper Possession of Ammunition

Firearm without FID Card

Conspiracy

Zachary Prince 10/19/93 4 Mike’s Way Webster

B&E vehicle in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony

Larceny of a firearm

Larceny over $250.00

Improper Possession of Ammunition

Firearm without FID Card

Conspiracy

Date: December 5, 2012

At approximately 1900 hours, a concerned citizen called the Webster Police Department reporting that a car had been travelling on Thompson Road with no lights on and was “all over the road”. He further reported the vehicle pulled into Nipmuc Liquors, and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel.

Officers Aaron Suss, James Young Jr., and Joseph Reed arrived and, after a brief investigation, determined that the operator, identified as David Cahill 8/13/59,  was almost four times over the legal limit.

Cahill was arrested and charged with operating under the influence. He is being held at the Webster Police Department on $40 bail.

The Webster Police encourage the residents of Webster to contact the police any time they see suspicious behavior at 508-943-1212. Emergencies may always be called in on 911.

Webster Resident Jillian Peters, armed with photos and facts, came before the Board of Selectmen on Monday to address the safety concerns associated with Lake Parkway. Peters cited the lack of sidewalks, proper lighting, crosswalks and the absence of a school speed limit sign as a clear danger to pedestrians, including children walking to school on that particular road.

WEBSTER- The Board of Health convened to discuss the procedures for an emergency meeting.

According to Health Agent Cathleen Liberty, she has attempted more than once to establish an emergency meeting policy, but has met a road block.

“The [town] clerk insists that I can’t call an emergency meeting until 24 hours have passed,” Liberty said.